Barabanki: Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh is connected to Ayodhya and many ancient religious places are present here. Among these, Sapt Rishi Ashram and Deva Mahadev Temple are prominent. There are some mysterious places in the district whose stories still attract people. One of these is the bridge of Parrot-Myna and their tomb. This historical bridge and tomb located in a village of Barabanki were built in the memory of two lovers. This place has been considered an example of love and loyalty for centuries. Every year a big fair is organized here, in which thousands of people from far and wide come and bow their heads, offer chadars and pray for the fulfillment of their wishes.
When robbers killed the minister
Mr. Keshan of the village tells that his grandfather and great grandfather used to tell the story of this place. Earlier there used to be a dense forest in this area. The dancing women in the village used to live in their own inn. One day the king’s minister was passing through this route carrying a lot of goods in a cart. Then suddenly the miscreants attacked them. They looted all the goods and killed the Wazir. The minister also had a parrot and a myna in a cage, who could speak like humans.
During the attack the parrot started screaming and said that he would tell everything. On hearing this the miscreants killed him. Seeing this, Myna lay down on the ground and pretended to be dead. The miscreants thought that she too was dead. When the miscreants left from there with the goods, myna came out of the cage and followed them and identified each of the miscreants. After this she flew straight to Delhi and told the whole situation to Emperor Akbar.
Hearing Maina’s words, the king immediately sent soldiers and ordered to arrest all the miscreants. All the miscreants were arrested and a court was held in the king’s court. Maina testified in the court and on the basis of his testimony all the accused were sentenced.
The king built a tomb in memory of the parrot-myna
It is said that after this the king reached the place where the Wazir and the parrot were murdered. The parrot started being buried there. Then Maina told the king that she also wanted to live with her partner and he too should be buried alive there. He said that some laddus and a pitcher of water should be kept with him. Hearing this, the king ordered and the parrot and myna were buried together. The king built a tomb in the memory of both of them.
Even today a fair is held every year
The parrot and myna were very close to the king and they used to give many important information. In his memory, the king built a permanent bridge over the nearby water drain. Since then this bridge was named Tota-Myna Bridge, which still exists today. A big and grand fair is organized at this place every year for centuries. People from far and wide come here to participate in the fair and express their faith.
