NEW DELHI: In a notable development, members of 3 families reverted to the Sanatan fold in a Ghar Wapsi program in Jagdalpur town of Bastar in Chhattisgarh. According to details, as many as 11 people from 3 families in Vijay ward of the town returned to their original faith on January 5, marking an emotional moment for them.
The returnees, upon reuniting with the Sanatan fold, were all welcomed by Hindu activists who presented them with a piece of saffron cloth and a copy of ‘Srimad Bhagwad Gita’ as chants of Jai Maa Danteshwari resonated in the air. The program was organised at a local temple where individuals performed traditional rituals before reuniting with their traditional faith.
Those who returned to Sanatan reportedly embraced Christianity around two decades ago. The returnees expressed delight at reuniting with their ancestors’ Dharma, stressing that they will never again leave Sanatan Dharma.
In a similar development, members of 7 families also reverted to the Sanatan fold in Kanker district on Sunday which recently witnessed tension over cases of conversion and burial of converted individuals.
According to reports, 22 members belonging to 7 families returned to Sanatan fold at a small gathering organised near the Shitala Mata temple in Kanker’s Bade Tewda area. The members who have made a return to Sanatan fold were all practicing Christianity before.
Reports suggest that around 60 individuals, including church leaders, have so far reverted to Sanatan in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker following a recent scuffle over conversion activities and the burial of converted tribals.
The state of Chhattisgarh, more particularly its tribal populated pockets of Bastar and Surguja, has long been affected by illegal conversion activities, often resulting in scuffles and disputes between locals and those promoting conversion activities.
The state in recent years has also witnessed violent clashes over disputes related to the burial of converted individuals, with leaders from the tribal community opposing such burials, citing violation of tribal’s customary practices .
