Inmates at the Shahjahanpur District Jail in Uttar Pradesh conducted a symbolic Kanwar Yatra on Monday. The event, held within the jail premises, involved inmates carrying holy water from the Ganges to offer to Lord Shiva, seeking purification from past sins and a swift release. This initiative, according to a senior jail official, was aimed at fostering spiritual awareness among prisoners. [1]
The jail superintendent noted that the initiative’s primary goal “is to encourage positive and spiritual thinking among prisoners and offer them opportunities to participate in religious and cultural programmes, which helps in inculcating discipline, restraint, and spiritual awareness.” This Yatra was arranged in response to requests from several inmates who could not partake in the traditional Kanwar Yatra due to incarceration. [2]
In contrast, the broader Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh has faced criticism and controversy. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the pilgrims, stating, “Kanwariyas are constantly put through media trials. They are labelled as hooligans and even terrorists. This mindset is an insult to India’s rich cultural heritage.” [3]
However, not all criticism has been unwarranted. Samajwadi Party MLA Iqbal Mehmood remarked, “There are more goons than Shiv devotees in the Kanwar Yatra. These individuals are indulging in vandalism and hooliganism, and their place is in jail.” Mehmood’s comments come amidst reports of vandalism and assaults during the Yatra, including incidents in Meerut and Mirzapur. [4]
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