Bada Mangal begins today with bhakti and bhandaras

Time of India

12-05-2025

Lucknow:
Bada Mangal
, the revered annual festival dedicated to
Lord Hanuman
, begins on Tuesday. Celebrated during the
Jyeshtha month
of Hindu calendar, it is falling on five Tuesdays this year — May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3 and June 10.Heactic preparations were underway at the
Hanuman temples
on the eve of first Bada Mangal, which is also a symbol of Lucknow's famous Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.Besides devotees queuing up at Hanuman temples throughout the day, the other highlight of the festival are bhandaras which are organised across the city and see the participation of all communities.At New Hanumanji temple in Aliganj, aarti will be performed at 6am on Tuesday, followed by Bal Bhog at 8am.
Pampa Sarovar (pond) situated in the temple premises has been renovated, said temple secretary Rajesh Pandey.At Gulachin temple in Aliganj, morning aarti will be performed at 6:30am and ratri aarti at 9:30pm.
Coolers and fans have been installed on the temple premises for the convenience of devotees, said office bearer Rakesh Dixit.At Hanuman Setu temple too, coolers have been installed for devotees. The temple has been decorated with flowers and LED lights. It will remain open for 24 hours. Mangla (morning aarti) will be performed at 6am and ratri aarti at 8pm, said acharya of the temple Chandrakant Dwivedi.At Lete Hue Hanumanji Temple, a bhog of 11kg laddoos will be offered to the deity. Mangla aarti will be done at 9:30am. Havan will take place from 7:30pm, followed by Mahaarati at 8:30pm, said temple's Pramukh Sevadas Vivek Tangdi.A bhandara will be organised daily from 5pm to 7pm at Khatu Shyam Temple, said temple's media coordinator Anurag Sahu.A Nawabi era tarditionLegend says that Bada Mangal is being held since the Nawabi era. The story goes that Janab-e-Alia, the wife of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, was born a devout Hindu. She prayed for a child at the old Hanuman temple. When her prayers were answered, in gratitude, she renovated the old temple and built a new one. This act of devotion is said to have initiated the tradition of Bada Mangal celebrations. Another version of the tale links the festival to Nawab Saadat Ali Khan's era, when his son, Mohammad Ali Shah, was seriously ill. After all medical remedies failed, blessings were sought from Lord Hanuman at the Aliganj temple, leading to the prince's recovery. As a thanksgivinggesture, the Nawab is said to have started the tradition of celebrating Bada Mangal.