Lucknow: At a Ganesh pandal in Jhulelal Vatika in the city, faith finds expression through handwritten letters addressed to ‘Manautiyon Ke Raja’, Lord Ganesh, who, devotees believe, fulfils wishes. As part of a decades-old tradition, devotees write their hopes, prayers and concerns on slips of paper and offer them at the pandal. The letters are later immersed along with the idol during visarjan.Among the crowd was 14-year-old Pihu Agarwal, carrying a wish for her 10-year-old brother Daksh, who suffers from thalassemia. “I have wished for my brother’s health. He has become very weak because of the disease,” she said.The popularity of the practice has grown significantly over the years. Committee patron Bharat Bhushan said the pandal earlier received around 20,000 to 40,000 letters annually, but now receives between 1 lakh and 2.5 lakhs. The tradition attracts devotees not only from Lucknow but also from nearby districts and towns.Teacher Manju Sinha came with a prayer for her mother, who has been in a coma for a year after suffering a brain haemorrhage. Having already lost her father, Manju said her mother’s recovery remained her only hope.For Shekhar Gupta, student from a farming family in Tanda, the wish was linked to securing a govt job. With four siblings dependent on the family’s limited resources, he hopes stable employment will help him shoulder responsibilities at home.Children queued up to place their dreams before Bappa. Eight-year-old Minnie Chowdhury prayed for a melodious voice ahead of her first school music competition, while six-year-old Aarav Suryavanshi wished for a younger brother, saying he often feels lonely.Ninety-three-year-old Girdhari Lal Chaturvedi arrived in a wheelchair despite severe back and knee pain. Accompanied by his son, he prayed for harmony among his sons after his death and the strength to continue serving Lord Ganesha for as long as he lives.
