Almost three years after religious violence convulsed Muzaffarnagar, a sugarcane-producing district in western Uttar Pradesh, Hindu and Muslim inmates in the local prison are fasting together for the holy month of Ramzan.
At least 100 Hindus are waking up at dawn to perform the mandatory rituals before fasting till sunset along with 1000 Muslim inmates, NDTV reported today.
The religious violence in the autumn of 2013 claimed 60 lives and displaced over 50,000 people.
Rakesh Singh, the jail supervisor told NDTV, that he had never "seen such a display of unity."
"This is the first time in my career that I have seen such a display of unity inside the jail premises. I think it's a wonderful thing in these times," he told the news channel.
The jail administration has reportedly provided seasonal fruits, dates, milk, curd and other snacks so that prisoners can have their sehri, a meal which is eaten before sunrise, and iftar, which is eaten after breaking the fast when the sun sets.
Anita, 35, who is serving a life sentence in jail, said fasting for Ramzan was a "personal decision," NDTV reported.
Jail officials quoted her as saying, "It's a deeply personal thing. I think we should all learn the good aspects of all religion. Fasting purifies your mind and soul. It's something that will help me on my stay here."
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At least 100 Hindus are waking up at dawn to perform the mandatory rituals before fasting till sunset along with 1000 Muslim inmates, NDTV reported today.
The religious violence in the autumn of 2013 claimed 60 lives and displaced over 50,000 people.
Rakesh Singh, the jail supervisor told NDTV, that he had never "seen such a display of unity."
"This is the first time in my career that I have seen such a display of unity inside the jail premises. I think it's a wonderful thing in these times," he told the news channel.
The jail administration has reportedly provided seasonal fruits, dates, milk, curd and other snacks so that prisoners can have their sehri, a meal which is eaten before sunrise, and iftar, which is eaten after breaking the fast when the sun sets.
Anita, 35, who is serving a life sentence in jail, said fasting for Ramzan was a "personal decision," NDTV reported.
Jail officials quoted her as saying, "It's a deeply personal thing. I think we should all learn the good aspects of all religion. Fasting purifies your mind and soul. It's something that will help me on my stay here."
Also on HuffPost India: