AHWA (DANGS): The Dangs has turned saffron as the tribal-dominated tiny district in Gujarat is preparing for the first-ever "Shabri Kumbh," beginning on Saturday, amid tight security.

While it is celebration time for the Sangh Parivar, which is making a strong bid to leave a lasting impression on the poor, mostly illiterate tribals, Christians are apprehensive. The minority community, still alive to the attack on the Christians and their institutions in the district in 1998, has so far not faced any problem as preparations were under way for the last two years. But they are apprehensive of a flare-up once the security forces are withdrawn after the end of the mega event on Monday.

Neither the organisers, the Shabri Kumbh Samaroha Samiti, an extension of the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad of the Sangh Parivar, nor State Government authorities believe that "tension" in the air. But local Christian leaders as well as the All-India Christian Council joint secretary, Samson Christian, alleged that Parivar activists had been moving around the villages, "threatening" the minority families to "return to the Hindu fold or face the consequences."

While the Christian leaders claim that the show is aimed only at "re-converting" the tribals, the Samiti joint general secretary, Suresh Kulkarni, says ghar wapasi (returning home — re-conversion) is not on the "Kumbh agenda." He claims that the "Kumbh" has nothing to do with re-conversion but will not rule out the possibility of the "Dharma Sansad" of sadhus and saints, to be held during the event, discussing the issue.

Mr. Kulkarni has made the Dangs his home for the past two years and is responsible for creating the infrastructure for the event.

Kalyan Parishad activists in villages admit that the event is primarily intended to "influence" the Christian tribals to return to the Hindu fold. They say the effort is to create the "right atmosphere" in the tribal belt, in both Gujarat and the areas bordering Maharashtra, for "educating" the minority Christians on ghar wapasi.

The "Kumbh," to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, will be held over an eight-sqkm area.

Mr. Kulkarni claimed that not a single tree had been cut to create the infrastructure. The samiti had taken "on rent" barren land from about 50 tribal families. "They have willingly given their land as it had no crops."

However, eyewitnesses said at least 100 trees were "uprooted" to create the infrastructure.

According to Director-General of Police A.K. Bhargava, in addition to the 4,000-odd local police personnel, eight companies of the State Reserve Police and four companies of the Rapid Action Force were being deployed.

The police were posted in 183 of the 311 villages, besides ensuring protection to all minority institutions in the district.

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