A gathering held in the name of Easter in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district has come under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that tribal residents were targeted for religious conversion to Christianity. The controversy gained attention after a video from the event in Mohanpur Khurd village went viral on social media, prompting the district administration to begin an inquiry.
Local accounts suggest that between 300 and 400 people attended the gathering. Organisers reportedly told villagers that prayer could cure diseases and help individuals overcome addiction. The programme was organised as part of Easter celebrations and drew a large crowd from nearby areas.
Villagers said the gathering was accompanied by a community feast. According to local accounts, two goats and around 40 chickens were slaughtered to prepare food for those who attended the programme.
After the video began circulating online, several individuals believed to be associated with the gathering were reportedly no longer present in the village, according to local residents.
What Are ‘Healing Prayer’ Meetings?
The incident has drawn attention to gatherings commonly described as healing prayer meetings, locally referred to as chhangai sabha. Such programmes typically involve collective prayer sessions where participants are told that faith can bring relief from illness, addiction, or personal suffering.
In Mohanpur Khurd, several villagers said they attended the meeting after struggling with health problems or addiction issues for which they had not found relief through hospital treatment or traditional remedies. Some claimed they were invited with assurances that prayer could provide healing where other methods had failed.
One attendee, Mehndi Bai, said she had earlier sought relief through ritual healing practices and was now encouraged to believe that prayer could cure her illness. Other villagers who attended the gathering said they were also told that faith could bring recovery.
Critics in the region argue that such meetings may influence vulnerable communities by presenting prayer as a guaranteed cure. They say individuals already dealing with illness or personal hardship may be more likely to believe such claims.
Allegations of Organised Outreach
Residents allege that individuals linked to missionary groups organise similar gatherings regularly in the area, often on Sundays. These programmes are sometimes described as efforts to bring about a change in mindset, which some villagers interpret as encouraging religious conversion.
Hindu organisations have criticised the Easter programme and alleged that promises of healing and the distribution of food are used to attract economically vulnerable tribal communities.
Earlier Concerns in the Region
The controversy has also revived discussion about missionary activity in parts of the Guna district over the past two decades. Local reports indicate that concerns about such outreach efforts have surfaced periodically in the region.
In 2017, authorities reportedly took action against certain structures linked to church properties in the area. Some buildings were sealed following administrative intervention over illegal construction.
Religious conversion has long been a sensitive issue in several Indian states, including Madhya Pradesh, where laws regulate conversions carried out through alleged inducement, coercion, or fraudulent means. While faith-based gatherings themselves are not illegal, authorities often examine such events closely when allegations of organised conversion arise.
Administration Begins Inquiry
Following the circulation of the viral video and the allegations raised by local groups, district authorities have initiated an inquiry into the event organised in Mohanpur Khurd.
Officials said further action will depend on the findings of the investigation. The administration is examining how the gathering was organised and whether any legal provisions related to religious conversion or public order may have been violated.
The incident has once again drawn attention to religious outreach activities among tribal communities and renewed debate over where faith-based gatherings end and allegations of organised conversion begin.