‘Ghar vapsi’ brings a temple to focus

December 27, 2014 10:01 am | Updated 10:01 am IST - Thiruvananthapuram:

The Thrichakrapuram Sri Krishna temple at Thirumala, known as Paarakkovil owing to its location atop a huge rock overlooking a large expanse of greenery, witnessed more than its usual share of visitors on Wednesday. As rumours spread of this temple being the location of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)’s ‘Ghar vapsi’ religious conversion programme in Thiruvananthapuram, television cameras had zoomed in there.

On Wednesday afternoon, news had spread that three of a family had been converted to Hinduism in this temple, run by the VHP itself. But on Friday when The Hindu visited here, the temple committee members said that no such event had happened there.

“It is true that one person came here on Wednesday morning, just around the time we were about to close the temple after the morning rituals, asking whether he can participate in the conversion ceremony. He was brought here by someone from the VHP. But since he was already a Hindu as per the records, there was no need for him to be converted. The other news of conversions are all false,” said Moorthy, a member of the committee.

He admitted that one conversion ritual had happened at the temple a few years ago and that they were ready to do more, in case there were people who wanted it.

“A few years ago, we did a puja for conversion after a Hindu youth married a woman from another community. We just conduct the rituals for conversion, but change in the records has to be done officially,” said Mr. Moorthy.

‘None in district’

When The Hindu contacted the VHP State general secretary M.C. Valsan, he also denied that any conversion took place at the temple.

“No conversion took place in Thiruvananthapuram, though we have been getting enquiries,” said Mr. Valsan, who did not elaborate on whether there was actually a plan to do so on Wednesday.

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