Ghar Vapsi, the re-conversion ceremony to bring converts back into the fold of Hinduism, has come to the city.

On Friday, Hindu Makkal Katchi, a Hindutva outfit operative in the State, will be reconverting 108 persons from non-Hindu families back into Hinduism.

“All the families are from Chennai. About 80 per cent are Christians and the rest Muslims,” said Arjun Sampath of Hindu Makkal Katchi. Originally, the re-conversion function was to be held at Sri Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane, but the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department had denied permission to conduct the rituals, he said.

According to the temple authorities, the priests had informed them that the temple had not performed any ritual of re-converting Christians and Muslims in the past and therefore the permission was denied.

Alternatively, the re-conversion rituals ( Thaai Samayam Thirumbum Thiruvizha) would be held at Kamatchi Amman Temple in West Mambalam, he said.

“This temple is not run by HR&CE Department and we have got permission from the management. Therefore there will not be any problem,” he said.

After the “purifying” rituals, the families would visit the Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane. As the temple is for all, “there can be no restrictions on entry”, the organisers say. “We have set a target of one lakh re-conversions before the 1000 birth anniversary of the Vaishnavite philosopher, Sri Ramanuja, in 2017. This is the beginning,” Mr. Sampath said. When asked whether police permission had been obtained for the event, a senior police officer said, “No permission is required for any activity within a temple premises.”

However, the officer said the police were not aware of the Ghar Vapsi programme till late Thursday.