More than 100 people who had earlier embraced Christianity after being misled by conversion groups have returned to Sanatan fold in a Ghar Wapsi ceremony held in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand, on Tuesday, September 03. Those who made a comeback in the Sanatan fold are residents of Ichak block.
120 people hailing from 67 families of six villages under Badkakhurd panchayat have reverted to Sanatan following a Yajna, where prominent members of various Hindu organisations were also among the attendees. Those facilitating the return of the villagers welcomed them by washing their feet with sacred Gangajal alongside presenting them with a piece of cloth during the ceremony.
The returnees were earlier adherent of Sanatan Dharma who had embraced Christianity under the influence of mission groups. Though realising it as a mistake on their part, they had shown intend to make a comeback into their bona-fide religion in a Maha-panchayat (grand village meet) held some time ago, after which local Hindu activists facilitated their return on Tuesday.
According to the reports, those who had embraced Christianity were lured into conversion on pretense of providing various facilities. However the converts soon started regretting their decision after they were instructed to maintain distance from their own family members.
Welcoming the development, Vinod Bansal, national spokesperson of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) informed Organiser “that rampant conversion has been going on in the state, the empire of missionaries is spreading fast into the hinterlands, Churches are being made and illegal conversion is being promoted”.
“The state of Jharkhand is facing a double attack of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and missionaries, its high time that the government should seriously review the demand of de-listing (a nationwide exercise aimed at identifying those among the tribal groups who have embraced any other religion other than those originated in Bharat) being raised continuously by the local tribal community,” added the VHP leader.
Over two dozen members of 14 families reverted to Sanatan in Chhattisgarh
In another related development reported from Sukma, over 30 people hailing from 14 families reverted to the Sanatan in a similar Gharwapsi ceremony held on Tuesday. Those who have returned in the Sanatan fold are residents of ward no 01, Sodipara of Sukma. The returnees had adopted Christianity under the influence of certain mission groups.
Those making a comeback were welcomed under traditional rituals prevalent among the locals. The returnees were sprinkled with ‘Gangajal’ and were subsequently applied with ‘Tilak’ on their forehead as a mark of their return to the Sanatan traditions.
सुकमा – 14 परिवार क़े लोगो को ईसाई मिशनरियो क़े सदस्ययो ने कई वर्ष पूर्व करवाया था धर्मान्तरण, अपनाया था ईसाई धर्म. घर वापसी,गंगाजल डालकर व टीका लगाकर हिन्दू धर्म मे किया स्वागत @VHPDigital @VHPInNews @BajrangDalOrg @ChhattisgarhCMO @vijaysharmacg @vinod_bansal pic.twitter.com/UoRnrUACS6
— Vishva Hindu Parishad – Chhattisgarh (@VHPchhattisgarh) September 3, 2024
It must be noted, that reports pertaining to illegal conversion have been keep coming to the fore from the tribal dominated states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, underscoring the growing menace of conversion sharks who are targeting and luring people from the marginalized sections into changing their religion.
However amidst the ongoing attempts of illegal conversion, Ghar Wapsi ceremonies facilitating return of those who have been converted cunningly through lure or inducement are also being organized continuously by the Hindu outfits with an aim to counter and curb the impact of the illegal rampant conversion being promoted in remote regions.
