Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh) [India], November 29 (HBTV): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Bhawna Bohra welcomed 125 members of 41 tribal families as they returned to Hinduism during a Ghar Wapasi programme held in Neur village of her Pandaria constituency in Kabirdham district. She washed the feet of 115 tribals as part of the ceremony organised under the ‘Janjati Sanskriti aur Gaurav ka Janjagran’ initiative.
Bohra expressed happiness, stating that large numbers of people have been returning to their original faith, with many voluntarily reaching out to join the process. She said the campaign would continue.
‘Approximately 125 members of 41 families have returned home. This campaign will continue. About a month and a half ago, 75 to 80 people returned home. Now, we are in the forest area, and people are voluntarily contacting us to return to their original religion,’ she said.
She added that many tribals were realising that detachment from their cultural roots would make it difficult for future generations to understand their history.
‘They are constantly understanding that they were turned away from their religion by greed and pressure. Now, when our children grow up and move into their future, what will they tell about their history? Because the tribal society where we stand today, the forest and land are their identity. These five basic elements are their identity. It is not possible for anyone to stay away from all of these. A very large number of people have returned to their original religion,’ she said.
Bohra has previously undertaken various efforts in her constituency to promote Sanatan Sanskar and preserve tribal and forest-dwelling cultures. These grassroots initiatives, she said, are benefiting families living in remote forest areas.
According to local organisers, the return of 125 individuals to their original faith is seen as a setback to groups accused of influencing tribals to convert.
Bhawna Bohra welcomed and felicitated tribal community members from Neur, Amaniya, Kadwani, Damgarh, and Birhuldih as part of the ceremony. (ANI)