It’s celebration time for the prisoners lodged in different correctional homes (read jails) across Bihar. They are busy in making arrangements for celebration of Chhath festival beginning Sunday.

In all the 59 jails, including eight central jails, prisoners cutting across religious beliefs are participating in preparations for the rituals dedicated to the Sun God with the prison authorities extending all possible help to them.

Authoritative sources said 45 female and 40 male prisoners lodged in the Beur Central Jail and 40 male and an equal number of female inmates in the Motihari Central Jail have offered to participate in the Chhath rituals.

“The pond named Shanti Sarovar inside the prison has been decorated to give a homely feeling to the devotees,” Beur jail superintendent Rupak Kumar told The Telegraph.

The pond is filled with fresh water mixed with Ganga jal. All devotees are provided saris, fruits and other material by the jail administration. The devotees undertake tough rituals. The female devotees are provided a separate ward to perform the puja, the superintendent said.

The superintendent of the Motihari Central Jail, Manoj Kumar, said two Muslim women inmates are among the 80 people who are observing Chhath this time. “This has strengthened the bond of communal harmony. Prisoners of all communities are helping each other on the occasion,” Manoj said.

“Chhath demands a very high level of purity and hygiene. All our inmates, be they Hindus or Muslims, have happily taken part in cleaning and decorating the premises. There is a complete change in the environment. It doesn’t look like a jail at all,” Rupak said.

Inspector-general (prisons) Mithilesh Mishra said the final list of the Chhath devotees taking part in the four-day rituals would be available to the prison directorate by Saturday. But one is sure that a large number of inmates — both men and female — are taking part in it, he said.

“Chhath is an important religious festival in Bihar. Those who are convicted or are under trial, but want to celebrate it are allowed to do so,” Mishra said, adding that the festival has a salutary effect within the premises.

A senior official of the home department said around 350 inmates are taking part in Chhath Puja this time against 300 last year.