Inclusive participation upholds Bada Mangal spirit

Lucknow: As saffron flags fluttered across the city, Bada Mangal reflected Lucknow’s tehzeeb, with Muslims, Punjabis and Sindhis coming together to organise bhandaras on Tuesday.In Mahanagar, Chowk, Hazratganj and Kanpur Road, members of different communities set up stalls serving boondi, sherbet, sabzi-poori, chhole-chawal, ice cream and sweets, with focus on helping passersby and those working in the summer heat, especially auto-rickshaw drivers and children.In Mahanagar, Alambagh resident Sahiba Ahmad, along with her friend Poonam Srivastava, set up a stall serving boondi and sherbet. “This is a way of earning ‘sawab’ (blessings through good deeds). Serving together unites us in the service of humanity,” she said. Ahmad has been participating in Bada Mangal for past two years.In Chowk, Syed Mohammad Asad continued his family’s decades-old tradition of hosting bhandaras by distributing sabzi-poori. “My focus has always been to serve rickshawpullers and those who labour in the summer heat,” he said.Punjabi Mahasabha secretary Pawan Manocha organised a bhandara in Hazratganj, where chhole-chawal and ice cream were distributed, especially fo children. “This is an opportunity to serve others and seeing people leave with smiles is fulfilling,” he said.Marking the occasion, Harsh Anand and his wife Ramanpreet Kaur distributed sweets near Kanpur Road. Kaur, resident of Aashiaana, said, “It feels special to celebrate moments that bring people together beyond communities.”