Mangaluru, May 8: As many as five members of a Christian family, who had been accused in the past of trying to convert a Hindu girl, have converted to Hinduism through a ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme organized by Hindutva activists near Konaje in Mangaluru taluk.
Saraswati (55), a widow and her four children, Raji (25), Rati (23), Rajesh (22) and Rakesh (18) are the five Catholics who underwent “purification” process and declared themselves ‘Hindus’ on Wednesday, May 6, in the presence of Hindu priests and Sangh Parivar activists.
Sri Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Mutt, Gurpur, led the puja rituals to readmit the Catholics to the polytheistic religion at their home at Muchilakody near Konaje village.
Saraswati, who belonged to a Hindu family from a village near Kollam in Kerala, fell in love with her Christian neighbour Raju nearly three decades ago.
After their marriage they shifted base to Muchilakody near Konaje and practiced Catholicism as per the wish of Raju and his family. Their four children-two daughters and two sons- also attended Churches and practiced Catholicism. Raju breathed his last nearly a decade ago, but Saraswati and her children were continued to be identified as Christians in the neighbourhood.
It is learnt that the friendship of Sarwaswati’s children with some activists of Sangh Parivar persuaded them to shun Catholicism and convert into Hinduism.
It is worth mentioning here that Rajesh, the eldest son of Saraswati, was in love with a Hindu girl from Ira village in Bantwal taluk and the couple had decided to marry as per Arya Samaj customs.
However, their love relationship had faced severe opposition from the family members of the girl and few Bajrang Dal activists, who had assaulted Rajesh and his sister when they visited the girl’s house in Ira nearly one-and-a-half year ago.
The local Bajrang Dal leaders had accused Rajesh and his family members of trying to convert the Hindu girl into Christianity. Rajesh had lodged a complaint with Bantwal police station against the assailants.
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