Lucknow – In an effort to ensure that prisoners across Uttar Pradesh can partake in the spiritual essence of the Maha Kumbh, the state’s jail administration is organizing the distribution of holy water from Prayagraj’s Sangam to 75 prisons. The initiative aims to allow inmates to engage in the revered religious ritual despite being incarcerated.
According to the Office of Uttar Pradesh Jail Minister Dara Singh Chauhan, the event will be held across all prisons on February 21 from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Prison Department officials stated that over 90,000 prisoners are housed in the state’s 75 facilities, including seven central jails. Under the supervision of Jail Minister Chauhan, arrangements for the event are being overseen by Director General (DG) of Prisons, PV Ramasastry.
Holy Water for Ritual Bathing
The administration has planned to mix the sacred Ganga water with regular water and store it in small tanks within each prison. Following prayers, inmates will be given the opportunity to bathe in the consecrated water. Jail Minister Chauhan is expected to attend a program at Lucknow prison, alongside senior jail officials, to mark the occasion.
Gorakhpur District Jail Jailor AK Kushwaha confirmed that jail guard Arun Maurya has been dispatched to Prayagraj’s Sangam to collect the sacred water. A similar arrangement has been made at Prayagraj’s Naini Central Jail, where Senior Superintendent Rang Bahadur stated that preparations are in place for the inmates’ participation. Amita Dubey, Senior Superintendent of Prayagraj District Jail, mentioned that approximately 1,350 prisoners are eagerly awaiting the ritual. The initiative has already taken place in Unnao Jail on February 17, with another session planned for February 21, according to Superintendent Pankaj Kumar Singh.
Maha Kumbh Mela: Economic Opportunities for Students
Meanwhile, the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela has also sparked an unconventional employment opportunity for students. With millions of pilgrims flooding Prayagraj, traditional taxi and rickshaw services have been overwhelmed. To bridge the transportation gap, young students have taken to offering two-wheeler taxi services, ferrying pilgrims through congested areas.
Law student Vijay, who has transformed his motorbike into a taxi, said, “I decided to help people stuck in traffic for hours.” Another postgraduate student, Peter, shared that he is earning between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per day by providing this service. “Most of us are college students, and this has become a good temporary source of income,” he added.
With the Maha Kumbh Mela set to conclude on February 26, these initiatives—both spiritual and entrepreneurial—are ensuring broader participation in one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, transcending barriers of incarceration and economic necessity.
