Lucknow: Key public figures have appealed to people to organise bhandaras (community feasts) on Bada Mangals in a clean, disciplined, and environmentally responsible manner this year. The focus is on sanitation, plastic-free arrangements, controlled sound levels, and segregation of wet and dry waste.
The appeal was made at the event Mangal Mahotsav on Saturday, held as part of 'Mangalmaan Abhiyan' to raise awareness about celebrating the festival in an environment-friendly manner while maintaining cleanliness. The first Bada Mangal this year falls on May 5.
Key Initiatives and Appeals
Minister of state for social welfare and SC/ST Welfare, Uttar Pradesh, Asim Arun, stated, “A group of volunteers from Mangalmaan Abhiyan would visit bhandaras to review arrangements, advise organisers to avoid plastic, ensure cleanliness, segregate garbage, and give appreciation certificates to motivate people.”
Zero-Waste Management and Mass Movement
The initiative focuses on zero-waste management, awareness drives, and ensuring public spaces remain clean after events. The aim is to turn Bada Mangal into a mass movement rooted in devotion, discipline, and environmental responsibility. The 'abhiyaan' should not be limited to Lucknow or only to Bada Mangal, he added.
Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sanyojak, environment activities, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Rakesh Jain, said that using steel utensils and cloth bags in large gatherings helps reduce waste significantly. The goal is to make such events completely plastic-free while protecting the environment, he added.
Former mayor Sanyukta Bhatia said the Mangalmaan initiative focuses on keeping bhandaras clean and eco-friendly. Retired IAS officer Anita Bhatnagar Jain stressed the need to regulate sound levels and follow environmental norms.
Significance of Bada Mangal
Bada Mangal is a festival celebrated largely in Lucknow and is a symbol of the city's Ganga-Jamuni culture. It falls on all Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Jyeshth. This year, eight Bada Mangals will be celebrated between Jyeshth (May 2–June 29), a rare occurrence happening after 19 years due to the 59-day long Jyeshth month.
