CONvicts Pull IskCON Rath Carts

July 11, 2003

Convicts Pull Carts

FROM NEWINDPRESS.COM

INDIA, Jul 9 — A show of penitence: 40 convicts pull chariots

BHUBANESWAR: It was a special day for 40 convicts of the Special Jail here.

The Rath Yatra not only brought them some relief from their prison life, it also gave them a chance to take part in the annual festival.

They got an opportunity to pull the chariot of the Lords alongside hundreds of other devotees at the Iskcon Temple here.

It was an apt show of penitence, for the act of pulling the chariot is said to clean one's sin and earn divine blessings for this life and beyond. Among the convicts were some who are serving life sentences. All of them went unescorted to CRP Square to take part in the holy festival. Holding a banner, performing 'sankirtan' from the jail premises at Jharpada, they were the cynosure of all when they joined other devotees.

It was part of the jail reforms process which, Additional Director General of Police G.K.Das says, must be carried forward to bring a holistic change in the lives of the inmates. Earlier in the day, the jail's 700 inmates pulled a chariot on the jail premises. Jailor Khagesh Chandra Mohanty and Sub Jailor Bimal Chandra Panda were present.

Meanwhile, the day saw thousands thronging the Car Festival organised in the city, most drawn towards the Iskcon Temple.

The three deities started their annual sojourn in the afternoon hours to reach Mausima Temple near Siripur Square. The festival in Chandrasekharpur also drew a large crowd.

The first day of the festival passed off peacefully even as all roads led to Puri.