Bhubaneswar: In a significant development in Odisha’s tribal-dominated Sundargarh district, four tribal families, comprising 14 individuals, have returned to Sanatan Dharma in Phuljhar Gram Panchayat. These families, belonging to the Munda and Bhuiyan tribal communities, had previously converted to Christianity under the influence of missionaries offering inducements and false promises. The families reported that they realised their mistake and chose to embrace their original faith once again.
The “Ghar Wapsi” ceremony was organised by the Hindu Jagran Manch and led by spiritual leader Sant Hari Baba. The event saw active participation from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and other Hindu organisations.
Ahead of the Ghar Wapsi ritual, hundreds of villagers took part in a grand Kalash Shobha Yatra (sacred procession), followed by a traditional Vedic Yagna. As part of the purification and return rituals, male members of the returning families underwent head tonsure, took a holy dip, and donned new clothes before formally rejoining the Hindu religion through Vedic procedures.
Bharat Kumar Mahanta, a key organiser of the programme, stated that the families had been converted some time ago through inducements and questionable methods by missionaries. “After realising the falsehood of those promises, they voluntarily approached us, and we facilitated their dignified return to their ancestral faith. We welcome them with open arms,” he said.
Local Hindu Jagran Manch Karyakarta Vijay Kumar Barik expressed concern over the increasing missionary activity in and around Phuljhar Panchayat. “Missionaries have been aggressively targeting vulnerable tribal communities such as Munda, Bhuiyan, and Patra, luring them with deceptive assurances. Fortunately, some families have recognised the deception and chosen to return to their roots,” he added.
Shantanu Kusum, Samarasata Pramukh of the VHP, Odisha (West), told Organiser that Christian missionaries are particularly focusing on tribal populations in the state under the pretext of faith healing and spiritual salvation. They employ various illegal methods to convert innocent individuals. “This not only distances them from their cultural roots but also sows seeds of discord within communities. Such activities must be curtailed. We urge the administration to take strict legal action against those violating the law,” he asserted.
