Thirty-seven families were reportedly reconverted to Hinduism.
‘Ghar Vapsi,’ a reconversion drive, was held under the auspices of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) at the Keezhe Perunthura temple, Elappara, in Idukki district on Sunday. Thirty-seven families were reportedly reconverted to Hinduism.
About a hundred people from the Pentecostal Church, who were Hindus before being converted, were reportedly reconverted at the function which went on from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. The ceremony was held as per their wish, said an office-bearer of the VHP. Money or other favours were not offered, he said.
The number may not be as high as 100 as claimed, said an intelligence official. The reconversion was held after a ‘shudhi kalashakriya’ by Arya Samajam.
The VHP claimed to have reconverted 27 Christians, from five families, to Hinduism in Kayamkulam too on Sunday. The ritual, as claimed by VHP Chengannur district president Prathap G. Padickal, was arranged at the Kizhavoor Yakshi Amman Temple at Varanappally, where the organisation had conducted a similar ceremony for 11 Muslims nearly a month ago.
Mr. Padickal said the persons, whose identities were not disclosed, hailed from Chettikulangara in Mavelikara. “Among them was an 80-year-old man, whose grandfather had converted to Christianity many years ago. The five families approached the VHP seeking assistance, citing neglect from authorities in the name of religion and caste,” he said.
The State leadership of the VHP has adopted a guarded stance on ‘Ghar Vapsi’ ever since its Chengannur district unit had claimed to have undertaken the first such ceremony in Kerala. However, Mr. Padickal insisted that the unit had not faced any opposition from the leadership regarding such activities.
“The fundamental principles of the VHP envisage every possible support to those who wish to embrace Hinduism,” he said.