UP prisoners take holy dip in ‘Sangam waters’, embrace spiritual renewal

Over 2,400 prisoners in Prayagraj jails chant ‘Har Har Gange’ as they take holy dip

Mahakumbh Nagar : The Prayagraj Mahakumbh has witnessed a record-breaking 59 crore devotees taking a holy dip at the Sangam. In a historic move, the Yogi government ensured that even prisoners could partake in this sacred experience. Inmates from Central Naini Jail and Prayagraj District Jail were given the opportunity, leaving many deeply moved.

The initiative was not limited to Prayagraj; prisoners from all 62 jails across Uttar Pradesh took a symbolic holy dip in Triveni’s sacred waters. Large tanks were constructed inside the jails to facilitate this, where holy water from Triveni was brought and poured. Prisoners bathed in this sanctified water, believing it to be a chance to cleanse their souls and partake in religious virtue.

At Central Naini Jail in Prayagraj, where over 1,700 inmates are currently lodged, more than 1,400 prisoners participated in the holy ritual. According to Senior Jail Superintendent Rang Bahadur Patel, the holy water was brought from Triveni in urns, ritually worshipped, and then poured into a specially built pond inside the jail premises. The prisoners then took their ceremonial baths in this sacred water.

A similar arrangement was made at the District Jail of Prayagraj, where over 1,300 prisoners are currently housed. Senior Superintendent Amita Dubey stated that more than 1,000 prisoners were given the opportunity to bathe in the consecrated water. Before the ritual bath, proper religious ceremonies were conducted to sanctify the water brought from the Mahakumbh at Sangam.

Many of the inmates never imagined they would be able to take a holy dip in the waters of Triveni, especially while serving their sentences. However, the Yogi government’s thoughtful initiative ensured that they did not miss this rare opportunity, which comes once in 144 years.

Since security and legal constraints made taking the prisoners to Triveni physically impractical, the government arranged for the sacred bath within the jail premises. As the prisoners immersed themselves in the blessed water, the jail echoed with the ‘Har Har Gange’ chants, expressing their deep emotional and spiritual connection to the moment. Currently, about 90,000 prisoners are imprisoned in the jails of Uttar Pradesh.