BADA MANGAL ANN DAAN - A MID-SUMMER SYMBOL OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY

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Last Nawab of Awadh, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, who ruled from Lucknow from Oct 1854 to January 26, 1875, is said to have promoted the recent forms of Hanuman devotion. He is said to have been an very impressive figure measuring 7 ft in height and a powerful wielder of weapons. His wife, Janab-e-Alia (Bahu Begum) was deeply distressed, having no issues. She prayed at the old Hanuman temple in Aliganj and is said to have received the blessing of a child. In thanksgiving, she got the old temple renovated, and the celebration of Bada Mangal with feeding people is said to have begun with that.  That appears inspiring for a day when sectarianism is thought to be on the increase. 

There are a few other stories also linked to this unique observance. (i) Shuja-ud-Daulah's wife was a

Hindu, and she had a darshan of Hanumanji, indicating the presence of an idol in what was being called 'Islam baadi', which was allegedly 'Hanuman baadi' earlier. She ordered a mining of the place, the idol was discovered, but in taking it to the location in a procession on an elephant, the elephant sat down at Aliganj temple, and it was thought to be a message from above - the temple was constructed/renovated and the idol installed. (ii) During the Jyeshth season, there was an epidemic, and people collected themselves in the Hanuman temple and were saved. And that bhandara was initiated in gratitude for the saving grace. (iii) Jatmal, A Marwari merchant of itr was in the town, with no luck of sale; the Nawab who came to know about it is said to have purchased the entire stock, and in gratitude, the merchant is said to have done the renovation of the temple.  Anyways, Shuja-ud-Daulah, some favour received, gratitude in terms of renovation of temple and initiation of bhandara are accepted features of the story behind. Another unique feature of this uniquely Awadh (For English people, Oudh - but it could also  be 'a+vadh > non-killing) celebration is the participation and organisation of both Hindu and Muslim communities, a feature required for today's poisoned, fractious and polarised Bharat. 

Jyeshth, the third month of the Hindu Calendar, sees the summer peaking. We see around the devotees of Hanumanji doing ann daan on Saturdays, in addition to the normal Hanuman devotion on Tuesdays. This is an interesting collaboration between the two divinities – Saturn (Shani) and Hanuman – the prakop of Shani will not befall the devotees of Hanuman, who is even otherwise sankat mochak. And the food is given as an appeasement to Shani through the channel of Hanuman. I saw several pandals in Sitapur where people (anyone without distinction – apparently) are fed. What began with gur, chana, fried wheat mixed with jaggery - gurdhani, has now stuff such as Chole-bhature, Poori-bhaji, chowmeen, water or sharbat and some mithai (moti choor or kesari or even ice cream).

I saw men, women and children, both well-dressed and ill-clothed, flocking to the many pandals. On visiting a government office of the secular nation, the officer listened to my problem, but promised to look into it the next day (which has not arrived even after 3 days), as she was busy with the puja in this connection.

While those who do the daan and receive it appear happy, I am afraid, the Mother Earth, patient (Kshama), as ever, bears the brunt. No religion appears to be sensitive to the sankat of Mother Earth. The devotional acts, generally giving contentment to the devotees, as a norm, bear no sensitivity towards planetary impacts and consequent impact on all forms of life. Fortunately, there are more bhandaras using the biodegradable leaf dhauna than in the recent past.

And, now I feel, that I must visit this temple - in Jyeshth or otherwise.

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