The holy month of Ramzan has united the inmates at Delhi’s Tihar Jail as many Hindu prisoners are observing Roza (fasting) inside prison.
Jail officials said that of the 2500 odd prisoners lodged at the Central Jail, there are 31 Hindu women inmates and 12 Hindu adolescent inmates are observing the fast during the holy month of Ramzan, this year.
Officials have put up boards which display the sunset timings every day and have ordered dates and rooh afza for all the fasting prisoners. According to prison authorities, ‘langar’ timings have been modified to ensure availability of prescribed meals for ‘sehri’ and other prayers.
“Inmate canteens have been stocked with Rooh Afza, dates and fresh fruits which can be purchased by the inmates. Arrangements for ‘roza iftar’ have been made in all central jails,” the authorities said.
Religious and charitable organisations have been permitted to make visits to conduct prayers and ‘roza iftar’ with inmates, subject to usual security precautions.
The other inmates make sure that they wake up early or prepare some part of the meal in the evening to be able to serve the rozedars at 4:00 am.
The Ramzan fast begins with a pre-dawn meal called ‘sehri’ to prepare hungry stomachs for the long day ahead. A typical suhoor often includes bread, vegetables, fruits, yogurt, tea, as well as lentils and beans.
At sunset, when it’s time to mark the end of the daylong fast, families and friends gather for an evening meal known as ‘iftar’.
Muslims typically break their fast as the Prophet Muhammad did some 1,400 years ago, by eating sweet dates and drinking water, followed by a sunset prayer.
