Amritsar, Oct 29: Jail inmates of Amritsar’s Central Jail had a whiff of homely memories within the drab prison walls on Monday, as they celebrated the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth.

Barracks in central prison jail here bustled as scores of women prisoners celebrated the festival for the well being of their husbands after receiving special permission from the jail authorities.

The Government of Punjab has allowed me to meet my husband and talk to him today. According to Hindu tradition, wives observe fast on Karva Chauth. The festival comes only once in a year. This is the first time we have got this opportunity," said Sunita, a jail inmate whose husband came to the jail on the special occasion.

Male prisoners also received special permission to meet their wives on the occasion.

Manjit, a jail inmate, expressed gratitude to the authorities for allowing them to meet with their spouses.

"The government has made these arrangements for us and we are very happy about it. Even the jail authorities have helped us a lot in meeting our family members," he said.

S.P. Singh, Superintendent of the Central Jail, Amritsar said: "We are allowing the inmates to celebrate this auspicious festival with their respective spouses. For this, we have granted them special permission to meet their spouses, so that they consider themselves an integral part of the society."

On the day of Karva Chauth, women keep a fast and do not even take a drop of water.

The fast, observed from dawn to dusk, is broken only after worshipping the husband, after the moon is sighted.

On this occasion, women receive gifts from their husbands and relatives. (ANI)