BHAGALPUR: More than 40 jail inmates, including women undertrial (UT) prisoners and Muslims, incarcerated at Shahid Jubba Sahni Central Jail in Bhagalpur, have sought permission from the authorities to perform four-day Chhath rituals inside the prison premises. A cemented pond has already been constructed for the Chhath devotee.
The Chhath Puja starts from Tuesday with ‘Nahay Khay’ rituals, followed by ‘Kharna’ on Wednesday and offering of evening and morning ‘Arghya’ on Thursday and Friday respectively.
Jail superintendent, Shahid Jubba Sahni Central Jail, Yusuf Rizwan, said about 40 inmates on Sunday sought permission for performing Chhath Puja. Out of 40 prisoners, 25 are men and 15 women, said the jail superintendent, adding the numbers of devotees is likely to increase by Tuesday. He said permission has been granted to them to perform the Chhath in the jail premises.
He said the puja-related materials for preparing ‘prasad’ like wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil, dried coconuts, dry fruits, seasonal fruits, including dabh lemon, water chestnuts, sugarcane etc besides soop and daura, diyas, incense sticks etc will be provided by the jail, Rizwan said.
He said the entire jail campus gets a festive look for four days when the Chhath devotees perform the rituals, adding, celebrations inside the jail by the inmates, cutting across the religious lines, will inculcate positive vibes among the prisoners who spend time in a restricted environment.