Faith triumphs over heat as devotees celebrate last Bada Mangal

Prayagraj: Hundreds of devotees thronged Hanuman temples across Prayagraj on Tuesday as the last Bada Mangal of the Jyeshtha month was celebrated with deep religious fervour, grand rituals and large-scale community service.

From the historic Shri Bade Hanuman Temple at Sangam to neighbourhood shrines across the city, devotees participated in special worship, Sundarkand recitations and bhandaras despite the sweltering heat, turning the city into a vibrant centre of devotion and festivity.The largest gathering was witnessed at the renowned Shri Bade Hanuman Temple, where devotees began arriving in the early hours and continued to pour in till late evening.

Long queues of worshippers were seen throughout the day as devotees from Prayagraj and neighbouring districts visited the temple to seek Lord Hanuman's blessings.On the occasion, the reclining idol of Lord Hanuman was adorned with an elaborate and unique shringar. The temple premises were beautifully decorated with a variety of fruits and flowers, creating a festive atmosphere. Mangoes, apples, oranges, pomegranates and bananas were used extensively in the decoration, along with a large assortment of flowers.

Mahant Balveer Giri, head priest of the temple, performed the ceremonial abhishek and aarti. A collective recitation of the Sundarkand was also organised, drawing participation from a large number of devotees. The day concluded with a grand maha aarti led by the Mahant.Volunteers of the Shri Satya Sai Seva Organisation distributed water and sweets at all eight Maha Mangal celebrations held at the temple premises.

Drinking water facilities, tents and fans were also arranged to provide relief to devotees from the intense summer heat.The spirit of Bada Mangal extended beyond the Sangam area, with Hanuman temples and localities across the city witnessing similar celebrations. Temples were adorned with flowers, special pujas and aartis were performed, and prasad was distributed among devotees. Several social and religious organisations organised bhandaras, serving food, sherbet and cold drinking water to devotees and passers-by, reflecting the tradition of service and charity associated with Bada Mangal.