The faith of Sawan, worship of Bhagwan Shiva and the resolve to return to one’s roots- all three are being witnessed together in Chhattisgarh these days. In Shivrinarayan, known as the sacred land of Maa Shabari and the land of penance of Bhagwan Ram, 500 converted families have made a ‘respectful Ghar Wapsi’ to Sanatan Dharma amid the construction and worship of 125,000 Paarthiv Shivlings.
In fact, this event, held amidst Vedic chanting, religious rituals and the washing of feet, witnessed hundreds of families and people returning to the Sanatan tradition. After conversion, and having distanced themselves from their cultural identity and the tribal, nature-worshipping community, people realised what they had lost. The anguish that arose from within their hearts subsequently led them back towards Sanatan once again.
"सवा लाख पार्थिव शिवलिंग पूजन के बीच 500 लोगों की सनातन धर्म में भव्य घर वापसी"
"महादेव के अपमान पर सनातन का प्रचंड प्रहार"
माता शबरी की पावन धरा, प्रभु श्रीराम से जुड़ी पवित्र भूमि शिवरीनारायण के राम मिलेंगे आश्रम, तेंदुआ धाम में सवा लाख पार्थिव शिवलिंगों के दिव्य पूजन एवं… pic.twitter.com/OzCM5gHFVx
— Prabal Pratap Singh Judev (@prabaljudevBJP) August 10, 2026
The message of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ with Sawan in Shivrinarayan
At the religious (Dharmik) programme organised at the local Ram Milenge Ashram (Tenduwadham), 125,000 Paarthiv Shivlings were constructed and worshipped. In the same religious (Dharmik) atmosphere, 500 converted families returned to Sanatan Dharma. The programme was organised jointly by Ram Milenge Ashram, Kumar Dilip Singh Judev Sanatan Foundation and Seva Nyay Utthan.
Prabal Pratap Singh Judev, head of the All India Ghar Wapsi Campaign and Chhattisgarh BJP state vice-president, washed the feet of the families after the worship rituals. Amid Vedic chanting, the process of formally accepting them back into the Sanatan tradition was completed. On the occasion, Prabal Pratap Singh said, “This religious ritual holds great significance for the organisers, because through it an effort is made to reconnect many families with their original cultural traditions, from which they had once moved away. At the same time, those who undertake Ghar Wapsi also experience a moment of happiness.”
He said, “In Shivrinarayan, he reiterated his father’s resolve and said that respectfully reconnecting families who have moved away from their roots with their original tradition is the principal aim of his life. He said that this campaign would continue in the future as well, and efforts would be made to reconnect families who feel that they have moved away from their original religious and cultural traditions.”
Campaign moving forward on the path of Dilip Singh Judev
It is noteworthy that the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign is not new in Chhattisgarh. One prominent name associated with it has been that of the late Maharaj Kumar Dilip Singh Judev. While campaigning against (Christian-Islamic) conversions in tribal areas, he worked to bring a large number of people back into the Sanatan tradition. Now, his son Prabal Pratap Singh Judev is engaged in taking the same campaign forward.
Among the most widely discussed cases of Ghar Wapsi in Chhattisgarh have been the events in Sakti. At an earlier Virat Hindu Sammelan, 651 converted families had undertaken Ghar Wapsi. Similarly, on the occasion of Shiv Shakti Rudra Mahabhishek in Sakti, a report emerged of 35 converted families undertaking Ghar Wapsi. In March 2026, at a programme organised at the Siddha Hanuman Temple premises in Sakti, it was claimed that 610 converted people had returned to Sanatan Dharma.
#ॐ_नमः_शिवाय pic.twitter.com/6YJBDF0OlE
— Prabal Pratap Singh Judev (@prabaljudevBJP) August 10, 2026
Jashpur’s tribal region emerges as an important centre
Jashpur has long been a major centre of the debate over conversion. Different views have been expressed here for a long time regarding the religious identity and traditional culture of the tribal community. More than 1,200 families have also undertaken Ghar Wapsi here in recent days. At the same time, information has emerged that six members of three converted families in Sahidand village of Bagicha development block returned to the Sanatan tradition through Vedic rituals. Those associated with the Ghar Wapsi campaign argue that the traditional faith of the tribal community cannot be allowed to weaken because of conversion.
Small incidents in Bastar-Kanker convey a larger message
Several incidents of Ghar Wapsi by families have also emerged in the Bastar division. In Budeli village of Kanker, eight Vanvasi families left Christianity and returned to their original religious tradition. In Bastar district, 20 people from four families undertook Ghar Wapsi. Earlier this year, 48 people from another seven families in Tarandul village of Kanker also undertook Ghar Wapsi. Meanwhile, reports emerged that more than 200 people from over 50 families in Pidhapal village had returned to the Sanatan tradition.
Campaign among the tribal community in Kawardha as well
Kawardha has also not remained untouched by this campaign. This year, 66 tribal people in Damgarh village undertook Ghar Wapsi, while approximately 150 to 200 tribal people in the Pandariya area returned to Sanatan Dharma.
Expanding from Mahasamund to Korba
At the Swami Sumedhanand Vedic Gurukul in Saraipali, Mahasamund district, 104 people from more than 50 families undertook Ghar Wapsi. The programme was organised amid Vedic chanting in the presence of Prabal Pratap Singh Judev. In Korba, during the Katha of Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, a report emerged of 583 people returning to Sanatan Dharma. This also included a claim of Ghar Wapsi by a Muslim family. Thus, ‘Ghar Wapsi’ is taking place from the plains districts of the state to the tribal regions.
सनातन को चुनौती देने वालों, एक बात हमेशा याद रखना—
सनातन कोई नाम नहीं, एक शाश्वत विचार है।
इसे समय नहीं मिटा सकता, क्योंकि यह समय से भी प्राचीन है।युग बदलेंगे, परिस्थितियाँ बदलेंगी,
लेकिन सनातन का प्रकाश कभी नहीं बुझेगा।
जो सत्य अनादि है, उसका अंत कैसे संभव है?धर्म की जय हो,… pic.twitter.com/l4euDFsE5O
— Prabal Pratap Singh Judev (@prabaljudevBJP) August 10, 2026
Not just a matter of religion, but of cultural identity
It is known that the term ‘Ghar Wapsi’ itself makes the ideological direction of this campaign clear. Its supporters do not regard it as religious conversion, but as the recovery of their original faith and cultural identity. This question becomes particularly significant in tribal areas because religious faith there is not limited to forms of worship; village deities, folk traditions, festivals, customs and community life are also connected with it. This is why the organisers of the Ghar Wapsi campaign describe it as a campaign to ‘reconnect with one’s roots’.
Remarks on Bhagwan Shiva and Judev’s sharp message
The issue of an alleged objectionable remark concerning Bhagwan Shiva was also raised at the programme in Shivrinarayan. Reacting sharply, Prabal Pratap Singh Judev said, “Sanatan does not provoke anyone, but neither does it spare those who provoke it.” Describing Sanatan Dharma as the foundation of India’s culture, tradition and philosophy of life, he said that disrespect towards faith and culture would not be accepted. Referring to the consequences of adharma and arrogance, he said that time itself delivers the verdict.
