The Uttar Pradesh government has made arrangements for prisoners who wish to perform ‘snan’ at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
On February 21, Sangam water will be brought to the inmates to perform snan. Arrangements are also being made to conduct worship and rituals on the same day after the snan. “On February 21, the snan with Sangam water will be conducted in all jails in UP. I will also be present at the Lucknow jail on February 21 to be a part of this,” state’s Jail Minister Dara Singh Chauhan said.
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There are over 90,000 prisoners across 75 jails in the state. Chauhan said that for the first time such an initiative is being implemented for prisoners who wish to take part in the ritual.
The Indian Express spoke to jail officials to understand how they plan to organise the snan in their respective prisons. Superintendents and jailers are sending staff to Prayagraj to collect holy water. While some are directly sourcing water from the Sangam, others are relying on Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj, which has made arrangements to distribute the water to other prisons.
After the holy water is brought, jail officials plan to store it in large shallow pans placed in each circle of the jail. Prisoners can collect and mix it with water.
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Officials in some jails have decided to first clean the water tanks of each circle and then pour the holy water before adding the regular supply, ensuring access to all inmates.
Superintendents and jailers are sending staff to Prayagraj to collect holy water (Express photo by Abhinav Saha) 
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