Bada Mangal breaking class, religion barriers
LUCKNOW : Breaking barriers of class, caste and religion, Bada Mangal is setting an example of unity and communal harmony in the state capital.
Bada Mangal ‘bhandaras’ are turning out to be spots where people forget the economic disparity, get out of their chauffeur-driven luxury cars, stand in a queue with the poor and wait patiently to savour the ‘prasad’.
Started during the Mughal period, the day devoted to Lord Hanuman has been a symbol of communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims for the past 400 years. Begum Janab-e-Alia, second wife of third Nawab of Awadh, Suja-ud-Daulha, started the tradition.
Unique to Lucknow, Bada Mangal is observed in the month of Jyeshtha (May-June) every year.
However, this time the enthusiasm is much higher as it is for the first time that the city is observing nine Bada Mangals instead of the usual four or five.
These ‘bhandaras’ are also proving to be a boon for people who are out for work in the heat wave. Standing outside the family court, Aftab, 69, and his daughter Tabassum, 30, were sweating in the sun when they spotted a ‘bhandara’ across the road.
The father–daughter duo came all the way from Sandila, a town area in Hardoi district, about 56 km from the state capital, to pursue a case in the family court and were extremely tired in the sultry heat.
Spotting a stall, Aftab crossed the road with his daughter to savour the ‘prasad’ being offered there. They beat the heat by drinking water offered at the bhandara and also took away poori and sabji to eat later.
“An offering from Lord Hanuman (poori –sabji at bhandara) during the holy month of Ramzan is not a co-incidence. Allah has destined me and my daughter to have poori –sabji at Lord Hanuman’s bhandara today,” said Aftab.
“As we had to travel to Lucknow, my daughter and I could not keep roza. So we made it a point to eat at a bhandara and not at any restaurant,” said Aftab setting a perfect example of Ganga –Jamuni tehzeeb for which Lucknow is famous across the country. Kitchens are also running dry as quite a few people don’t cook at home on Tuesday and even restaurants get very few customers.
For those coming from other cities as well, it is a unique experience. Parikshit Tripathi, a native of Varanasi, has been to Lucknow several times. But it is the first time that Tripathi happened to be in the state capital on a Bada Mangal.
“All the city roads are dotted with pandals offering poori sabji, chhola chawal, sharbat and boondi. This kind of festive fervour is unmatched even in Kashi,” said Tripathi.
Even Lucknowites who are working in other cities, or married in other cities try to come to Lucknow around this time.
Purnima Sharma, 26, a native of Lucknow, is married in Mumbai. However, she makes it a point to come to Lucknow around this time every year.
On Tuesday, Purnima was at the bhandara organised behind the Hanuman Setu temple. Her sister, Mrinal Pandey also accompanied her.
“Ever after marriage, I always try to a make it a point to come home on Bada Mangal. Last year, I could not come. But this time, I planned in advance to be here,” said Purnima.