Church converted to Hindu temple in Rajasthan

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 relaxed rite, as a number of households have willingly returned to Hinduism, consistent with the previous church priest.

The construction, constructed on personal land roughly one and a part years in the past, used to be repurposed as a temple devoted to lord Bhairav throughout a rite hung on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The development featured a procession sporting the deity’s idol, accompanied by way of chants of “Jai Shree Ram” (Hail god Ram).

Gautam Garasia, who prior to now served because the church priest and can now officiate because the temple priest, said that he had transformed to Christianity 30 years in the past and used to be the primary particular person in Sodla Guda to take action. Following his conversion, many households within the village additionally embraced Christianity, with Garasia establishing Sunday prayers close to his hut.

“I made a Ghar Wapsi [homecoming, referring to his conversion to Hinduism] round one and a part years in the past as there used to be infrequently any trade in my lifestyles. Now I’m glad to be again in my faith,” Garasia informed newshounds. He claimed that 45 other folks had embraced Christianity following his lead, and now roughly 30 of them have transformed to Hinduism.

Banswara Superintendent of Police Harsh Vardhan showed that Garasia had built the church on his personal land. “As of late, the stated construction on his personal land used to be made a temple as he once more transformed to Hinduism,” the SP informed media.

Previous to the consecration rite, the church development underwent important alterations. The logo of the move used to be got rid of, the construction used to be painted saffron, and Hindu non secular symbols have been added to the partitions. Consistent with Garasia, there’ll now be an ‘aarti’ (Hindu prayer ritual) of lord Bhairav each and every morning and night, changing the Sunday prayers prior to now held on the web page.

Police have been deployed within the house to verify the development proceeded easily.

Native assets counsel that the reconversion can have been influenced by way of the Maha Kumbh competition not too long ago held in Prayagraj after 144 years. Consistent with experiences 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 change.

Garasia denied any exterior force in his choice to reconvert, declaring there used to be “no force both on the time he transformed to Christianity or now, when he’s creating a Ghar Wapsi.” He emphasized that because the church used to be constructed on his land, he has determined to transform it right into a temple of Bhairav Ji, who is understood in Hinduism as a protecting deity.

The village of Sodla Guda is situated roughly 70 kilometres from the Banswara district headquarters. Native citizens steered that this match, being the primary of its type within the tribal house, would possibly encourage identical reconversions in neighbouring villages the place other folks had prior to now transformed to Christianity.