Patna, Sep 15 (IANS) — Terming it a “return home,” the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) re-converted 55 Dalits to Hinduism after a religious ritual in a Bihar village.
Eight families of these socially marginalized sections who had earlier embraced Christianity underwent purification rites in Chandarpur village of Samastipur district Tuesday in a ‘yagna’ organised by RSS activists.
The activists said the Dalits were lured by Christian missionaries “but realised their mistake and decided to return to the Hindu fold”.
They alleged that Christian missionaries were active in proselytising the poorer segments, particularly in flood-prone districts.
The RSS has given a call to the locals to oppose conversions and not to allow Christian missionaries to penetrate the villages.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 15 (IANS) — At least 150 Christians in Orissa will voluntarily return to Hinduism in a “homecoming ceremony” to be presided over by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday.
A police officer, however, said people were entitled to change their religion after informing the district administration, “but we have not yet been intimated about the function”.
A local VHP leader said Wednesday that Hindu religious leaders Swami Chinmayananda and Laxmanananda Saraswati were expected to attend the function at a Shiva temple here.
Some 50 families from the villages of Mahuldiha, Ramachandrapur, Sudang, Gokulachandrapur and Prafullachandrapur in Mayurbhanj district had converted from Hinduism to Christianity a couple of years ago.
Orissa has witnessed numerous clashes, particularly in the tribal belt, over religious conversions, including the killing of Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons in 1999.
© 2004 IANS
