New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Anarkali, Mallika, Sheila – no, we are not talking about women here, but varieties of mangoes which are on display and sale at the ongoing Mango Festival in the capital.
Over 500 varieties of mangoes are on display at the 23rd edition of the annual Mango Festival at Dilli Haat in Pitampura area of north Delhi.
Inaugurated by Delhi’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Kiran Walia Friday evening, the festival is already attracting hordes of people.
‘I haven’t missed this wonderful festival in years and even today, I am taking home loads of mangoes,’ Walia said after inaugurating the festival.
The festival is on till Sunday.
Adorned with mango motifs, yellow-green balloons and bright decorative lights, the Dilli Haat is a must-visit place for all lovers of the ‘king of fruits’.
‘Over 500 varieties of mangoes are on display in three halls and many varieties are on sale as well. There are various mango products as well, like pickles,’ an official said.
Around 400 uncommon as well as commercially popular varieties of the mangoes are being showcased at the festival. About 1,000 varieties of mangoes are grown in India.
Prices start from Rs.30 per kg, while one can buy a whole 12 kg crate for Rs.400.
‘Prices will rise as the demand increases in the next couple of days,’ stall owner Gyanchand, from Lucknow, told IANS.
Roshan Bhalla, a Dubai resident who is visiting his family in Delhi, said: ‘I love Alphonso mangoes and I am taking home this whole crate for my family.’
A huge crowd had gathered outside many stalls, with people eager to taste the varieties available.
‘The crowd will only peak in the weekend. We expect around 50,000 visitors for the festival,’ the official said.
Vir Singh Tomar, a mango cultivator from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, said he has been associated with this festival since its inception.
‘We started our planning over a month back… we are displaying over 100 varieties of mangoes here,’ he said.
Manish Chatrath, chairman of Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Ltd, said: ‘This is the biggest of its kind mango festival in the country.’
Organised by the Delhi government’s tourism department, the festival is on from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
