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Around 90,000 inmates across 75 prisons in Uttar Pradesh were given the opportunity to partake in the holy bath of the Maha Kumbh. Authorities facilitated the event by bringing sacred water from the Triveni Sangam to jails in cities including Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Aligarh.
Sacred Bath Inside Jail Premises
Officials arranged for the Sangam water to be mixed with regular water and stored in small tanks within the prison premises. This allowed inmates to perform the sacred ritual and offer prayers without leaving the confines of their jail cells.
Speaking at the event in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of Prisons, Dara Singh Chauhan, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, “UP is the first state where the prison department has undertaken such an effort. While people outside can visit the Sangam freely, prisoners—despite their faith—are bound by the walls of the jail. With the support of senior and junior jail officials, around 90,000 inmates were able to experience this sacred dip.”
A Response to Prisoners’ Requests for Maha Kumbh Snan
Chauhan also highlighted that the initiative was a response to requests from prisoners themselves. “The inmates expressed their wish to participate in the religious experience just like those outside. They wanted to take their dip in the confluence of Sanatan and become full partners in the faith,” he noted.
Visuals from Aligarh Jail showed prisoners carrying earthen pots (‘matkis’) filled with the holy water before mixing it for the ritual. Aligarh’s Jail Superintendent, Brijendra Singh Yadav, confirmed that the event was organized following state government directives and witnessed participation from inmates of all faiths.
“As per the instructions of the state government and jail administration, a ‘Snan Parv’ was organized for the inmates since they cannot physically go to the Maha Kumbh Mela. We brought the sacred water to them, ensuring they could also take a holy dip. Even Muslim inmates enthusiastically took part in the ritual,” Yadav told ANI.
Maha Kumbh Continues in Prayagraj
In Ayodhya, Jail Superintendent Uday Pratap Mishra reported that 757 prisoners participated in the ritual. “All inmates took the holy bath with the sacred water brought from the Maha Kumbh. There was no distinction among them—they performed the ‘Snan’ with the intention of purifying their minds. The jail department made this possible,” Mishra stated.
While the initiative brought the essence of Maha Kumbh inside prison walls, thousands of devotees continue to arrive at Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam to take a dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, is set to conclude on February 26, marking the end of one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
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