Watch: Hindu inmates of Barabanki jail fast during the month of Ramadan

Barabanki: At a time when communally insensitive acts are becoming common in many parts of the country, the inmates of the Barabanki district jai in Uttar Pradesh have set an example of religious solidarity.

Over a dozen Hindu inmates have also been fasting (keeping roza) during the month of Ramadan along with the Muslim inmates. The jail administration has made special arrangements for Iftar of both Hindu and Muslim inmates who are fasting.

Similarly, Muslim inmates also fast during the Hindu festival of Navratri to accompany their Hindu peers.

The tradition started few years ago when about two hundred Hindu prisoners of Barabanki district jail began fasting with Muslim prisoners during the holy month of Ramadan. Since then, Hindu prisoners are fasting with Muslim inmates setting a unique example of religious unity and brotherhood.

This year 250 prisoners out of 1400 prisoners including Hindu inmates in Barabanki District Jail, are fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. All the necessary arrangements have been made by the jail administration for Iftar – from dates to milk and tea besides delicious dishes. Hindu inmates like their Muslim counterparts, also observe fasting throughout the day, and even wake up with them at 3 in the morning and do sehri.

News18 quoted the jailor of Barabanki District Jail, Alok Shukla as saying, “Around 250 inmates at Barabanki district jail are fasting due to Ramadan and out of these 15 are Hindu inmates. There are also some Muslims who fast during Navratri along with their Hindu counterparts. Meals are prepared for them and everything that is prescribed for those fasting is included in the meals.”

He expressed happiness over the religious harmony displayed inside the jail. “There might be differences in the outer world but inside the jail all live peacefully and follow their respective religions with peace and brotherhood” Shukla said.