States
Madhya Pradesh: 35 Chamunda-Worshipping Muslim Families Convert Back To Hinduism After Four Generations In Dewas
Muslim families taking holy dip in Narmada river to convert back to Hinduism
190 people of 35 Muslim families converted back to Hinduism in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Monday (31 July).
The ceremony conducted in the presence of Hindu saints included a holy dip in the Narmada river, mundan (shaving head) and hawan followed by wearing yagyopaveet.
These families had adopted Islam four generations ago but continued worshipping Chamunda Mata as their kuladevi (family deity). Their marriage rituals were also Hindu in nature.
Seeing these traditions in the family, the younger generation requested saints to do their 'ghar-wapsi' (converting back to Hinduism), Jagran reported.
Mohammad Shah (now Ram Singh) said that their ancestors adopted Islam under hostile conditions but sanatana dharma flowed in their veins.
According to Sant Anandgiri Maharaj, these families originally hail from Ratlam district's Amba village. They are madaris by occupation who earn a living by showcasing performances of bears, monkeys, etc.
Historian Dilip Singh Jadhav says that 200 years ago Muslim zamindars ruled over this area and forcibly converted nomadic tribes to Islam.
However, these tribes continued worshipping their family deities. Chamunda Mata is prominently worshipped by these tribes.
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