Bada Mangal - Lord Hanuman with Beard

Puzzle cube mural of Lord Hanuman

Bada Mangal is a series of celebrations held each Tuesday in the Hindu month of Jeyestha. The festival commemorates the meeting of Shri Hanuman and Lord Ram, an important turning point in the story of Ramayana, the great Hindu epic. Local community members gather at temples to perform kirtans, the singing of devotional songs, and organise bhandaras, the distribution of free food.

Bada Mangal is held primarily in the state of Uttar Pradesh, specifically in the region of Awadh, which is in and around the city of Lucknow. In fact, in Awadh, the festival has a different origin story. As per local lore, the begum (wife) of the Nawab (the local ruler), was highly distressed on account of being childless. Having come to know of special powers of an ancient Hanuman temple, she offered prayers at the altar and promised to renovate the crumbling building if blessed with a child. Her wishes soon came true and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The Nawab, who was a muslim, was delighted! Instead of punishing the Begum for her act of heresy – idol worship is forbiden in Islam – he not only had that old temple restored but also had a new one constructed beside it.

This act of communal harmony – a Hindu temple constructed by a Muslim ruler – is highly applauded and is a prime example of the Ganga-Yamuna culture of Awadh, known locally as the Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb.