Kanwar Yatra 2025: A Rare Glimpse of Faith – Inmates Perform Shiva Abhishek with Ganga Water, Pray for Release
Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh – As millions of devotees across India embark on the sacred Kanwar Yatra, walking barefoot for miles to offer Ganga water to Lord Shiva during the auspicious month of Sawan, a unique and deeply spiritual sight has emerged from within the walls of Shahjahanpur District Jail. Here, inmates—many of whom are serving long sentences—are performing Abhishek of Lord Shiva with Ganga water, fervently praying for forgiveness, inner peace, and in some cases, an early release.
Spiritual Practices Behind Bars
According to Jail Superintendent Mizajilal, the prison administration has facilitated the religious observance by supplying Ganga water sourced from Panchal Ghat (on the Ganges River) in Farrukhabad. This has enabled over 500 inmates, both male and female, to perform daily rituals during Sawan.
The jail houses four temples within its premises, where inmates are provided with all the essential offerings for puja—bael leaves, dhatura, madar flowers, and other traditional items. Additionally, spiritual texts including the Shiv Puran have been made available to the prisoners.
Dedicated Support for Devotion
To further support the inmates’ religious practices, the prison has appointed a qualified religious guide to help inmates perform rituals and understand the significance of their prayers. The superintendent noted that this initiative not only serves spiritual needs but also promotes mental well-being and discipline among the inmates.
One of the most striking examples of transformation and faith is Amandeep Kaur, a British national on death row. She observes Sawan Somvar fasts with complete devotion and performs daily worship by offering bael leaves to the Shiva lingam. According to Superintendent Mizajilal, Kaur has expressed that her time in India has deepened her faith in Indian spiritual traditions. She hopes that her devotion might result in divine mercy and a commutation of her death sentence.
Faith and Redemption: Inmates Speak
In conversations with several inmates, the jail administration found that motivations varied:
- Some inmates fast and worship seeking atonement for their past sins
- Others do so out of genuine spiritual awakening
- Many, especially those under trial or serving short-term sentences, pray for early release or reduced punishment
Currently, 220 inmates are observing Sawan Somvar fasts, including 21 women prisoners. The jail provides them with a special diet on fasting days—500 ml of milk, 750 grams of boiled potatoes, 100 grams of sugar, and seasonal fruits.
Humanity Within Confinement
The Shahjahanpur District Jail currently houses 1,301 inmates, including 47 women. This spiritual initiative has added a new dimension to prison life—one that transcends punishment and focuses on healing, repentance, and hope.
Through this rare convergence of faith behind bars, the Kanwar Yatra 2025 has taken on a deeper, more profound meaning—showing that devotion knows no boundaries, not even prison walls.
