Tuesday, May 12, 2009

BADA MANGAL (A TRADITION OF LUCKNOW)

Celebrations and festivities mark every Tuesday in the Hindu
month of Jeshtha in Lucknow. All these Tuesdays -- known as Bada Mangal --
are dedicated to Ram's biggest devotee Hanuman. In view of the same, Monday saw hectic preparations underway in city's Hanuman temples as his devotees would be thronging the temples in large numbers.

And why not? It is said that Lord Hanuman blesses all those who offer him prayers and prasad during Bada Mangal. Members of the family especially eldest son and daughter should pay a visit to the deity. If that's not possible, at least the head of the family should bow his head before Hanuman.

Bada Mangal's an occasion, the celebration of which begets its origin to Lucknow's culture of oneness. History has it that Janab-e-Aalia, second wife of nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah got the old Aliganj Hanuman temple constructed. She is said to have dreamt of Lord Hanuman who ordered her to get a temple constructed.

Based on her dream she ordered quarrying of the area she saw in her dream. The idol was found after which it was transported on the back of an elephant to the city. The elephant, however, did not step forward after a point (the place where the temple is situated). Therefore it was decided that the temple be constructed at this place. Since then, Bada Mangal is celebrated with festive gaiety in the city to mark the belief of the Muslim begum over the deity.

Naming her son, later known as Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, as Mirza Mangloo after the deity, Begum Aalia started the tradition of a fair which continues to be held every year. As time passed by, the festival became a symbol of Hindu-Muslim congeniality. No wonder Muslims too contribute whole-heartedly in arrangements for the Bada Mangal.
(THIS POST HAS BEEN COPIED FROM THE TIMES OF INDIA DATED 09 MAY 2009)