Author: Kamaal Saiyed
Publication: ExpressIndia.com
Date: December 19, 2007
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Baptized-south-Gujarat-tribals-reembrace-Hinduism/251936/
Surat, December 18 Around 2,000 tribal men
and women from different villages in South Gujarat, who had converted to Christianity,
re-embraced Hinduism on Monday evening at a religious ceremony ( sammelan)
at the Shivaji ground in Tapi district.
They took an oath by the fire in the presence
of Jagat Guru Acharya Narendra Maharaj and submitted affidavits that they
won't convert to Christianity ever again in the future.
The people had started gathering at the venue
since Sunday night listening to the Jagat Guru's teaching before re-converting
to Hinduism at the ceremony a day later.
Narayan Solanki, a disciple of Narendra Maharaj
in Tapi district said, "There are many disciples of the Maharaj working
in different villages of Vyara, Dharampur, Songadh, Mandvi, Ahwa-Dang, Vasda
and so on. They visit these places and interact with the tribals who have
been baptised earlier by various missionaries and convince them to return
back to Hinduism."
According to Solanki, the Maharaj also runs
an ashram at Naneej village in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. It was after
a visit to one such ashram that they became motivated to become his disciples.
"We visit different villages and persuade those, who have been baptised,
to come back into the Hindu fold," said Solanki.
Giving details about the sammelan (ceremony),
another disciple, Mahipal Thakur, said, "We have been working for the
sammelan for the past few months and contacted tribals in various villages,
who had become fed up with Christianity. These tribals gathered on Sunday
night at Tapi district. They were provided with food and accommodation, and
later they met the Maharaj during the night. On Monday, they assembled at
the Shivaji ground where the Maharaj gave a religious sermon. Many of the
tribal men also cut off their hair and took oaths, while all of them gave
thumb impressions on the affidavits saying they have willingly returned to
the folds of the Hindu religion."
Deputy Collector of Tapi district N S Halbe
said, "The organisers had taken prior permission to hold the sammelan.
The district officials visited the venue and have submitted their report about
it to me."
