Lucknow: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, around 90,000 inmates from 75 prisons across Uttar Pradesh were given the opportunity to participate in the Mahakumbh Snan through a symbolic holy dip inside prison premises.
Officials brought water from the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, mixed it with regular water, and stored it in tanks at jails across cities like Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Aligarh, allowing inmates to offer prayers and take the sacred bath.
🛕 Key Highlights:
🚰 Holy Water Distribution:
- Water from the Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati confluence was transported and stored in jails.
- Prisoners carried matkis (pots) filled with the sacred water during the event.
🧘 Inmate Participation:
- Lucknow: Minister of Prisons Dara Singh Chauhan highlighted that inmates requested the initiative, emphasizing spiritual inclusion.
- Ayodhya: All 757 inmates participated, seeking to purify their minds.
- Aligarh: Inmates from various religions, including Muslim inmates, took part enthusiastically.
🗣️ Officials Speak:
“People outside can visit the Sangam anytime, but prisoners cannot. By bringing the holy water to them, they too become full partners of Sanatan,” said Dara Singh Chauhan in Lucknow.
“Even Muslim inmates are excitedly taking part in the ‘snan parv’,” added Brijendra Singh Yadav, Superintendent of Aligarh Jail.
“This initiative was taken with the intention of mental purification and inclusivity,” remarked Uday Pratap Mishra, Ayodhya Jail Superintendent.
📅 Mahakumbh 2025 Update:
- Mahakumbh commenced: January 13, 2025
- Concluding: February 26, 2025
- Location: Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj
Thousands of devotees continue to arrive for the final days of the spiritual mega-event.
✅ This pioneering step ensures that faith transcends walls, offering prisoners a chance for spiritual reflection and rejuvenation.