Inmates of Bihar jails observe 'Chhath'

As many 20 prisoners in the high security Beur jail in Patna are observing the festival with support from the prison authorities, Jail Superintendent Shivendra Priyadarshi said.

Besides, a temporary pond has been dug up in the Beur jail premises for the devotees who will stand in waist deep water to pay obeisance to the sun god this sunset and sunrise tomorrow.

At 40 inmates, the central jail at Motihari in Bihar's East Champaran district has the highest number of prisoners taking part in Chhath festivities, Jail Superintendent K.P. Pingua said, adding that the devotees include the incarcerated ultra Manju Devi.

The inmates at Motihari central prison have been observing 'Chhath' for the past several years and a permanent pond has been constructed for this purpose.

There are 81 prisoners in the special divisional jail, divisional jail for women and the central jail in Bhagalpur district who are observing the festival this year.

Of the inmates observing Chhath, there are four serving the life term sentence, sources said.

A family lodged in the open jail in Buxar district is taking part in Chhath festivities, Central Jail Superintendent S.K. Ambastha said.

In Vaishali division jail, 35 inmates are observing Chhath festival, jail warden Satyendra Kumar said. In Muzaffarpur's Khudiram Bose central prison, 90 inmates will participate.