Express News Service By

ALAPPUZHA: Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) reconverted 39 people from 11 Christian (Cheraman) families in a ceremony held at Nallaveetil Bhadrakali Temple near Cheriyanadu as part of the ‘gharwapsi’ campaign here on Sunday.

The reconversion ceremony was held at the temple from 6 am to 10 am. VHP leaders and various Hindu leaders attended the ceremony. The priests conducted ganapathi homam and shudhi homam for the purification of those who were reconverted and they were asked to recite gayathri manthra as the final step for becoming Hindu.

VHP district chief Prathap G Padickal led the rituals. Prathap said they have so far reconverted as many as 75 families belonging to Christian and Muslim religions in Alappuzha district.

The first stage of gharwapsi was held in Harippad in Alappuzha on December 21 last year in which as many as 30 people from eight Christian families officially accepted Hinduism.