Prayagraj: While some 59 crore devotees have taken a dip at the Sangam this Mahakumbh, some have had the luxury of taking a dip with the holy waters being brought to their doorstep.
In a remarkable gesture of inclusivity, the Uttar Pradesh government ensured prisoners across the state participate in the sacred ritual, bringing the holy waters of Triveni into jail premises. With security constraints preventing the physical movement of inmates to the Sangam, the administration devised an alternative: large water tanks were set up inside all 62 prisons across Uttar Pradesh, where consecrated water from the Triveni Sangam was transported and poured. This allowed prisoners to symbolically immerse themselves in the sacred experience, fostering a sense of spiritual cleansing and renewal.
At Prayagraj’s Central Naini Jail, which houses over 1,700 inmates, more than 1,400 took part in the ritual bath. Senior Jail Superintendent Rang Bahadur Patel detailed how the holy water was carried in urns, worshipped through traditional rituals, and then poured into a specially built pond inside the jail premises.
A similar arrangement was made at the Prayagraj District Jail, home to over 1,300 inmates. Senior Superintendent Amita Dubey confirmed that more than 1,000 prisoners bathed in the sanctified water following religious ceremonies. For many inmates, this was an unexpected yet deeply moving experience. The idea that they, despite their incarceration, could partake in a revered ritual that happens once in 144 years was overwhelming.
As prisoners took their symbolic dips, chants of ‘Har Har Gange’ echoed through the jail corridors, creating an atmosphere of devotion and faith. With nearly 90,000 prisoners across Uttar Pradesh, this initiative was not just about religious participation—it was a step towards providing spiritual solace and emotional upliftment to those behind bars.
