BJP MLA Bhawna Bohra performs traditional foot-washing ritual for 115 returnees, hails it as cultural awakening against coercive conversions
Published on: November 12, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Kabirdham, India
In a poignant ceremony symbolizing cultural reclamation and spiritual homecoming, 125 members from 41 tribal families in Neur village of Pandaria constituency voluntarily returned to Sanatan Dharma after previously converting to Christianity. The event, held under the ‘Janjati Sanskriti aur Gaurav ka Janjagran’ program, saw BJP MLA Bhawna Bohra personally washing the feet of 115 participants as a mark of respect and welcome—a gesture rooted in ancient Indian traditions of honoring guests and seekers.
The returnees, primarily from Baiga tribal communities in remote forest areas, hailed from villages including Neur, Amaniya, Kadwani, Damgarh, and Birhuldih. Many shared that they had been lured away from their ancestral faith through inducements but felt a deep pull to reconnect with their roots, preserving tribal customs like nature worship and community living. “This is not just a religious return; it’s a reconnection with our cultural identity and heritage,” MLA Bohra stated, emphasizing the program’s focus on empowering tribals through education, health, and self-respect initiatives.
Held at the government pre-secondary school in Neur, the program featured Vedic rituals, havan, and oath-taking ceremonies where participants pledged allegiance to Sanatan values. Senior social worker Harish Lunia praised Bohra’s ongoing efforts, noting that over 70 similar returns had occurred in the region just two months prior. Local BJP leaders, including district president Rajendra Chandrawanshi, attended, describing the event as a blow to “wrongful luring” and a step toward mainstreaming forest-dwelling communities.
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MLA Bohra, known for her work in promoting Sanatan Sanskar and tribal welfare— including free ambulances, mobile health labs, and thousands of PM Awas houses—expressed joy at the voluntary nature of the returns. “People are realizing that straying from roots weakens future generations. This campaign will continue to protect our ancient tribal glory,” she added. The event also highlighted government schemes like PM Janman Yojana, which have brought roads and facilities to remote areas.
This Ghar Wapasi aligns with broader efforts in Chhattisgarh to counter alleged coercive conversions, with similar programs yielding thousands of returns in recent years. Attendees hailed it as a “new hope” for tribal dignity, reinforcing the message of unity and pride in India’s indigenous heritage.
