The period between 2017 and 2025 has witnessed a significant rise in concerns regarding the strategic use of cultural festivals like Christmas to facilitate religious conversions across India. From a traditionalist perspective, these evangelical efforts are often viewed as a calculated “cultural invasion” that exploits the festive spirit to target vulnerable sections of society. Right-wing observers argue that under the guise of carols, community feasts, and public celebrations, missionaries employ “inculturation” tactics – appropriating local symbols and languages – to create a familiar but deceptive path toward proselytisation. This trend is seen not merely as a religious shift, but as a systematic attempt to erode the indigenous cultural fabric and demographic balance of the nation, prompting several states to introduce or strengthen anti-conversion laws to safeguard local traditions from such predatory practices.
This report compiles 10 major incidents from 2017 to 2025, highlighting how Evangelical forces utilise Christmas events as a primary medium for religious conversion.
Targeting the Vulnerable: Exploitation of Blind Children in Jabalpur (2025)
In a deeply concerning incident on December 20, 2025, evangelical elements at a church behind Hawabag College in Jabalpur were caught targeting visually impaired children. Under the pretext of a festive Christmas program, these organisers allegedly used the children’s disability as a gateway to exert religious influence. Local residents intervened, exposing what they described as a calculated attempt to lure and convert the blind children by exploiting their helplessness during a time of public celebration.
Aggressive Proselytisation in Mumbai Slums (2024)
On Christmas Day 2024, the Kashimira area of Mumbai became a flashpoint for cultural defense after church members were caught attempting to convert Hindu slum dwellers. The organisers reportedly urged impoverished families to renounce their ancestral deities in favour of Christianity. The situation escalated when local activists intervened, leading to a viral moment where children, previously under the influence of the missionaries, reclaimed their identity by chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.
Law Enforcement Cracks Down on Illegal Conversion in Gorakhpur (2024)
The Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law was put into action in December 2024 when Laxmi Yadav was arrested for orchestrating religious conversions in Gorakhpur. Exploiting the outreach potential of the Christmas season, Yadav allegedly used Christian religious practices to influence and misguide locals. Recognising the predatory nature of the activity, the judiciary denied bail, signaling a strict stance against those using seasonal festivities to bypass legal protections for indigenous faiths.
Mass Conversion Racket Exposed in Uttarkashi (2023)
A major conspiracy to alter the demographic fabric of the Devbhoomi region surfaced in December 2023. Pastor Jejaras Cornelius and his associates were accused of organising a mass conversion event in Chhiwala village, targeting local villagers and people of Nepali origin. By misleading the participants about the tenets of Hindu Dharma and distributing evangelical literature under the guise of an NGO gathering, these missionaries sought to erode local traditions. The Uttarakhand police filed an FIR under the state’s stringent amended Religious Freedom Act to address this organised assault on local culture.
The “Nat” Community Targeted Through Faith Healing Claims in Gonda (2022)
In Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, the Methodist Episcopai Church was implicated in the conversion of approximately 20 members of the Nat community during the 2022 Christmas period. The incident highlighted a common evangelical tactic: the use of “faith healing” and spiritual promises to lure economically marginalised families. By convincing individuals that adopting Christianity would cure illnesses, these forces successfully broke apart the traditional religious ties of several families, further highlighting the need for vigilance against allurement-based proselytisation.
Confronting the “Hope and Light” Deception in Uttarkashi (2022)
In the sacred landscape of Uttarakhand, a major conversion bid was thwarted on December 23, 2022, in Purola village. Pastor Lazarus and his wife, Sushma Cornelius, allegedly orchestrated a mass conversion event under the guise of Christmas festivities at the “Hope and Light Centre.” The gathering, which included vulnerable locals and several Nepali citizens, was exposed by vigilant Hindu activists. The situation turned violent when missionary elements reportedly attacked village women, resulting in injuries to a young girl. While the police registered FIRs against the perpetrators, the incident underscored the aggressive nature of evangelical groups operating in the sensitive Himalayan belt.
Exploiting the Marginalised: The Kathua Money-for-Faith Case (2021)
On Christmas Day 2021, the peaceful village of Padyari in Jammu & Kashmir became a target for predatory proselytisation. Pastor Chunglenlal Singsit, an outsider from Manipur, was accused of attempting to convert members of the Dalit community by utilising the Christmas spirit to distribute money and offer targeted prayers. Local residents confronted the pastor, leading to police intervention where it was confirmed that conversion activities had indeed taken place. This case highlights a recurring pattern of using financial allurement to break the traditional social and religious bonds of the underprivileged.
The Pataudi School Intrusion: Conversion Through Drama (2021)
Evangelical forces utilised the premises of SBD Public School in Pataudi, Haryana, to conduct a deceptive conversion drive on December 25, 2021. Organisers, led by Ravi Kumar, targeted approximately 55 locals, including women and children, through highly emotional speeches and theatrical performances designed to glorify Christianity and undermine indigenous beliefs. The event was only halted after the timely intervention of right-wing groups who recognised the “celebration” as a front for organised religious transformation.
Institutional Indoctrination at Nirmala High School, Mandya (2021)
A systemic attempt to brainwash Hindu minors was exposed at the Nirmala English High School in Karnataka, run by the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate. Parents of the students sounded the alarm, alleging that the school was forcibly imposing Christian practices such as mandatory Bible study, fasting during Christian festivals, and daily prayers on non-Christian children. By weaponising the educational environment, the institution allegedly violated constitutional rights and the Juvenile Justice Act, prompting a formal inquiry by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
Misuse of Government Infrastructure in Pratapgarh (2017)
In a brazen display of administrative manipulation, Christian organisers in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, obtained permission to use a government community center for a “Christmas dinner” that quickly turned into a conversion seminar. On December 21, 2017, attendees were subjected to evangelical propaganda and the distribution of literature aimed at religious conversion. This incident served as a stark reminder of how missionary groups exploit public resources and official permissions to carry out their agenda of cultural erosion under the veil of festive hospitality.
The recurring pattern of these incidents highlights a coordinated strategy to erode India’s cultural and religious identity. The misuse of educational institutions, the exploitation of poverty, and the strategic distribution of evangelical literature during public festivals underscore the need for stringent legal frameworks. The rise in state-level anti-conversion laws reflects a necessary grassroots response to safeguard the “Dharma” of local communities from predatory proselytisation. As these evangelical forces continue to adapt their methods, the collective vigilance of civil society and the firm implementation of “Freedom of Religion” acts remain the primary shields against the organised attempt to alter the nation’s social fabric.
