Lucknow: In a unique initiative starting Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government is providing prisoners across all jails in the state with water from Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj to allow them a chance to take a holy bath ahead of the Maha Shivratri, when the final bathing ritual will be performed by crores of devotees at the Maha Kumbh.
The scheme will be implemented across the state’s seven central and 68 district jails.
Water from the Samgam, the holy confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, will be transported from Prayagraj to all the jails across Uttar Pradesh and starting today, inmates will be given this water for bathing.
The collected water from Sangam is being sent to all the jails across districts. To facilitate this, special tanks will be set up in prisons where Ganga water will be mixed with regular water. Inmates will be able to take water for bathing, and participation in the ritual will be entirely voluntary.
Currently, Uttar Pradesh’s accommodate around 90,000 inmates. Minister Dara Singh Chauhan has taken the initiative to ensure the smooth supply of holy water to the jails, allowing inmates to partake in this spiritual practice and leading them on a correctional path.
Maha Kumbh Shivratri holy dip
On Thursday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the preparations for the final bathing festival of the Maha Kumbh, set to take place on Mahashivratri, February 26. He directed officials to ensure smooth traffic management by implementing a well-planned route system.
Adityanath instructed authorities to prevent roadside parking and take measures to reduce the walking distance for devotees heading to the Sangam for the holy dip. He stressed the importance of seamless coordination between the Maha Kumbh Mela administration, the Prayagraj administration, and neighbouring district authorities.
Highlighting the contributions of daily wage workers in making the Maha Kumbh a success, he urged officials to ensure that their honorarium is paid without delay.
