A church within the tribal-dominated village of Sodla Guda in Rajasthan’s Banswara district has been transformed right into a Hindu temple in a peaceable ceremony, as a number of households have willingly returned to Hinduism, in keeping with the previous church priest.
The construction, constructed on personal land roughly one and a half years in the past, was repurposed as a temple devoted to lord Bhairav throughout a ceremony held on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The occasion featured a procession carrying the deity’s idol, accompanied by chants of “Jai Shree Ram” (Hail god Ram).
Gautam Garasia, who beforehand served because the church priest and can now officiate because the temple priest, acknowledged that he had transformed to Christianity 30 years in the past and was the primary particular person in Sodla Guda to take action. Following his conversion, many households within the village additionally embraced Christianity, with Garasia organising Sunday prayers close to his hut.
“I made a Ghar Wapsi [homecoming, referring to his conversion to Hinduism] round one and a half years in the past as there was hardly any change in my life. Now I’m joyful to be again in my faith,” Garasia advised reporters. He claimed that 45 folks had embraced Christianity following his lead, and now roughly 30 of them have transformed to Hinduism.
Banswara Superintendent of Police Harsh Vardhan confirmed that Garasia had constructed the church on his personal land. “At this time, the mentioned construction on his personal land was made a temple as he once more transformed to Hinduism,” the SP advised media.
Previous to the consecration ceremony, the church constructing underwent important alterations. The image of the cross was eliminated, the construction was painted saffron, and Hindu non secular symbols have been added to the partitions. In keeping with Garasia, there’ll now be an ‘aarti’ (Hindu prayer ritual) of lord Bhairav each morning and night, changing the Sunday prayers beforehand held on the website.
Police have been deployed within the space to make sure the occasion proceeded easily.
Native sources recommend that the reconversion could have been influenced by the Maha Kumbh pageant just lately held in Prayagraj after 144 years. In keeping with reviews within the Hindi media, the message of Hinduism spreading from the Maha Kumbh has reached the tribal district of Banswara and had brought about this transformation.
Garasia denied any exterior strain in his determination to reconvert, stating there was “no strain both on the time he transformed to Christianity or now, when he’s making a Ghar Wapsi.” He emphasised that for the reason that church was constructed on his land, he has determined to transform it right into a temple of Bhairav Ji, who is thought in Hinduism as a protecting deity.
The village of Sodla Guda is situated roughly 70 kilometres from the Banswara district headquarters. Native residents urged that this occasion, being the primary of its form within the tribal space, could encourage comparable reconversions in neighbouring villages the place folks had beforehand transformed to Christianity.
