Lucknow: A large-scale community feast (bhandara) was organized in Lucknow to pay tribute to late photojournalists, news cameramen, and photographers who dedicated their lives to the field of media and visual journalism.
The event, held under the supervision of Media Photographers Club convener Manju Srivastava, was conducted with great devotion and participation. The bhandara, dedicated to veteran photographer SM. Pari and other departed media professionals, was observed in a spirit of remembrance and service.
The tradition of the Hanuman Bhandara, initiated by S.M. Pari in memory of deceased photographers and news channel camera personnel, continued this year as well under the stewardship of Manju Srivastava in his absence.
Before the commencement of the bhandara, rituals and prayers were performed under the guidance of Pandit Krish Dev, with Vedic chanting marking the ceremonial start. The event was formally inaugurated by several distinguished guests, including Sanjeev Verma, Chairman of Royal Cafe; Murlidhar Ahuja, Chairman of Akhil Bhartiya Kayastha Sabha; and Mahant Divya Giri of Mankameshwar Mandir.
Prominent political and public figures also attended and supported the initiative, including MLA Ravi Das Mehrotra, former Mayor of Lucknow Sanyukta Bhatia, former cabinet minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui, and Minister of State Manish Gupta, among others. Local administrative officials and police representatives also participated in the event.
Members of the Media Photographers Club contributed significantly to the smooth execution of the bhandara. Key organizers and participants included Rizwan Khan (General Secretary), Mohd Ali Sahil, Manoj Chhabra, Rangnath Tiwari, Abhishek Mishra, Adil Pari, Khurshid Khan Raju, A.N. Rawat, Sudhir Jaiswal, and Sanjeev Verma, along with several others.
Senior members and patrons such as Murlidhar Ahuja (Patron), Sanjeev Gosai (President), Rajneesh Yadav, and numerous media professionals including Ashok Dutta, R.B. Thapa, Kamal Beg, Nadeem Jafar, C.P. Pandey, Sunil Rawat, Ravi Yadav, Pankaj Tripathi, and many others were present with their families.
The event witnessed widespread participation from the media fraternity of Lucknow, with members gathering in large numbers to honour the legacy of their departed colleagues. The bhandara served not only as a religious and charitable gathering but also as a symbolic tribute to the contribution of photojournalists and camera professionals in documenting society.
Organizers said the tradition will continue in the coming years as a mark of respect for those who served the field of visual journalism with dedication and integrity.
