Hundreds of Adivasis from villages in Maharashtra’s Thane district were “reconverted” to Hinduism at a “purification” ceremony in Thane (west) on Monday.

“Today 795 Adivasi (tribal) families were reconverted to Hinduism. We are not having a religious conversion here — it’s a process of purification,” said Jagatguru Swami Narendracharya Maharaj. “We taught them the precepts of the Hindu religion and they decided to convert to Hinduism on their own after repentance. They were not forced.”

Narendracharya said he was converting people who had originally been Hindus.

He holds such ceremonies every year. Last year, it was held in Kalwa in Thane. He claims to have reconverted more than 95,000 adivasis to Hinduism.

A five-stage ceremony was performed as part of the purification process, including a ritual involving cow’s milk, seeking forgiveness from ancestors, installation of Ganesh and Vishnu idols and yagna (an offering ritual) which was performed by priests from Ayodhya.