Bada Mangal literally translates to Big Tuesday, and is a day when Lord Hanuman is worshipped. It is a festival unique to Lucknow, and Hanuman devotees in any other part of the country do not celebrate this occasion. In fact, Bada Mangal is a symbol of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of Lucknow as it said to have originated during the Mughal rule, some 400 years ago. Bada Mangal is celebrated on every Tuesday of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, only in Lucknow.
WHERE & HOW
All Hanuman temples in Lucknow celebrate Bada Mangal. But the Hanuman Temple in Aliganj, where this ritual is said to have started, is the focal point for devotees. People prefer early morning or late night visits to the temple, in order to avoid the long queues as well as the heat. Devotees also set up large bhandaras across the city, from where they distribute prasad and water to everyone. From chola-chawal, halwa-puri, kachori-aloo, jalebi-khasta, kadhi-chawal and juice – the bhandaras offer tasty prasad to everyone.
BADA MANGAL IN 2018
>Usually, there are 4-5 Bada Mangal days in the month of Jyeshtha. This year, however, Bada Mangal is falling on nine Tuesdays, starting on May 1, and spread over the months of May and June.
>There are new rules for bhandara organisers as well this time. To ensure post-bhandara cleaning on the roads, the Lucknow Nagar Nigam is going to charge Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 from the organisers. The organisers will also need to inform the LNN in advance about where and when the bhandara will be held, and will have to coordinate for the post-event cleaning of the public space.
