Lucknow: Undeterred by the scorching sun and high humidity, hundreds of devotees thronged bhandaras across the city on the seventh Bada Mangal, reaffirming the deep faith associated with Lord Hanuman and the longstanding tradition of community service linked to the occasion.A grand bhandara organised by accredited journalists also emerged as a major attraction where an elaborate prasad of 22 dishes drew large crowds throughout the day.Adding a green touch to the celebrations, environment enthusiasts organised “plant bhandaras” at different locations. Teacher Damini Joshi distributed saplings and seeds in Indira Nagar, while Paritosh Sahay handed out plants, seeds and small pots to encourage people to contribute to environmental conservation.Long queues were seen at several places as devotees waited patiently for prasad and festive meals served by organisers.
