BADA MANGAL

 


BADA MANGAL


In the Hindu month of Jyaistha (ज्येष्ठ) which usually falls during the month of May and June (as per the Gregorian calendar), the city of Nawabs celebrates a famously unique festival of BadaMangal, which is only observed in Lucknow. Bada Mangal is celebrated in honor of Lord Hanuman, a Hindu deity known for love, compassion, devotion, strength, and intelligence, who is one of the most widely worshiped Gods of this faith.

The celebration, which represents the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of Lucknow, is supposed to have started some 400 years ago, during the Mughal era. This is an Awadhi religious celebration in which both Hindus and Muslims take part.

The center of attention for all worshippers is the Hanuman Temple in Aliganj, present-day Purana Hanuman temple Aliganj. It's because that's where the custom is said to have begun. There are a variety of theories as to who erected the old Hanuman temple in Aliganj. One theory holds that Chhatar Kunar, the mother of Saadat Ali Khan, the sixth Nawab of Awadh, did. Given that Saadat Ali Khan was born on a Tuesday, he was also known as Manglu because of this.

Hanuman Ji's day falls on Tuesday, hence in addition to Hindus, the Nawab's religion has also been connected to this day. Chhatar Kunar also known as Begum Alia, was the Hindu wife of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula (third Nawab of Awadh). She took part in prayers for Hanuman Ji at the just-constructed temple on the first Tuesday of the high summer month of Jyaistha.

As the years went by, it evolved into a custom to observe Bada Mangal on all four Tuesdays of the Jyaistha month. Devotees continue to pray to Lord Hanuman despite the extreme heat. The tradition of Bhandara, which started with Gurdhania (गड़ुधनि यां) made of jaggery (गड़ु), gram (गेंहू) and roasted wheat (चना), is still going on.

The Bhandara sites all across Lucknow, which provide worshippers with freshly prepared food and energizing drinks, are, nevertheless, the most lovely features of these celebrations. The two years of Covid, the Bhandaras turned into a form of social work. Different types of foodstuffs including Puri-Sabji, Chole, Kadi-Chawal, Boondi, Sharbat, etc. are served at the bhandara stalls.

Devotees participate in this festival every year, carrying the sacred legacy forward through the generations.

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