Visitors won’t be allowed to witness Janmashtami celebrations in Agra jail this year

AGRA: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, visitors from outside will not be allowed to witness Janmashtami celebrations at Agra Central jail this year. However, the annual tradition of offering midnight prayers at the shrine inside the jail premises will take place as usual on Wednesday, said jail authorities.
“Janmashtami celebrations are a must in all prisons across Uttar Pradesh. Agra jail has been observing Krishna Janmashtami with elaborate celebrations for decades. In wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, gates of the jail will not be opened to outsiders but staffers and inmates will celebrate while maintaining social distancing. The temple inside the jail premises has already been decked up by the inmates,” said deputy inspector general (prisons) Love Kumar.
The preparations start a week in advance. The inmates make all the decorations from scratch, including tableaux and art installations. According to data available with the Agra Central Jail, around 1,900 inmates are presently lodged there. An internal estimate of the jail says nearly 1,500 devotees from different parts of the city, mostly local residents living in the vicinity, visit the jail to partake in Janmashtami celebrations every year. However, the jail was not opened to visitors last year either, as prisoners from Kashmir had been lodged there after abrogation of Article 370 in the valley.
“Prisoners are very excited for the celebrations. The fact that outsiders will not be allowed to witness their creations has dampened the spirits a little. However, the kirtan (devotional chants) will be organized as usual on Wednesday. Prisoners will sing bhajans (devotional songs) dedicated to Lord Krishna,” said VK Singh, senior superintendent of Agra central jail.
Apart from the decorations, the inmates also enact the story of Krishna to mark the occasion, donning colourful costumes. According to mythology, Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in a prison cell in Mathura. Krishna was prophesied to kill Kansa, the ruler of Mathura and brother of Devaki.
“We also have a special menu planned for the prisoners,” said Singh. “Apart from the usual ‘dal and roti’, we will be serving the festive ‘halwa puri’,” he said.