A Texas-based evangelical Christian mission Christar has called for “cross-cultural workers” and “local believers” to share gospel and plant churches among Hindus during the period of “great spiritual darkness” of Navratri and Dussehra.

The evangelical organisation on its website had released a 10-day Navratri prayer guide for its members.

“This time of spiritual focus can provide unique opportunities for cross-cultural workers and local believers to share the gospel, but it is also a time of great spiritual darkness, despite the celebratory atmosphere.” said the organisation on its website.

The organisation released instructions to its members to pray every day not only for Hindus but also for those church members who come from Hindu background as well as those workers who are “seeking to plant churches among Hindus—during Navratri and beyond!”

The instructions told the members about the significance of each day of the festival till Dussehra and what the members should pray for these days.

The prayers ask for raising up more workers in order to plant the seeds of the gospel among Hindus, conversion of more Hindus and awareness among Hindus toward Jesus Christ.

Christar is an international evangelical Christian mission organisation based in Richardson, Texas. It was founded in 1930 as "The India Mission", and in the 1950s was renamed to "International Missions, Inc." and finally to "Christar" in 1999.

Incidentally, the prayer guide has since then been removed from the website.