Lucknow: Noorjahan, weighing up to 4kg, Baramasi Balasundari that fruits twice a year, Nehal Pasand that can be eaten both raw and ripe, and colourful hybrids such as Pusa Arunima and Pusa Lalima stole the spotlight at the UP mango festival.The 3-day festival featuring more than 800 varieties of mangoes, India’s favourite summer fruit, began at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Friday.Mango lovers, farmers and horticulturists from across the country are participating in the festival.The irresistible aroma of ripe fruit filled the venue as visitors moved from stall to stall, discovering everything from household favourites to rare cultivars seldom seen in markets.“The demand for premium and unique mango varieties is rising every year and festivals like this give us direct access to consumers,” said farmer Pradeep Singh Rathore.Alongside iconic varieties such as Dussehri, Chausa, Kesar and Himsagar, were rare and exotic selections including Noorjahan, famed for its enormous size, and Rajapuri, which can weigh nearly 1.5 kg.Varieties such as Imam Pasand, Fazli, Mallika, Amrapali, Gulab Khas and Red Ivory drew curious visitors with their distinctive flavours, colours and textures.Newly developed hybrids including Pusa Arunima, Pusa Lalima, Shreshtha and Ambika were displayed by scientists and horticulture experts, highlighting years of breeding efforts aimed at improving quality and resilience.Joint director of the horticulture department, Uttarakhand, Narendra Kumar said, “We are showcasing more than 35 coloured mango varieties here, including innovative types like mango apple.”“Modern machinery and scientific methods are transforming mango cultivation, increasing both yield and quality,” said farmer Upendra Kumar Singh.Among the crowd-pullers were special varieties named “Yogiraj” and “Modi”, each weighing around 400 gm and attracting visitors eager to learn about their unique characteristics.“These varieties are particularly beneficial for diabetic consumers, as they maintain a balanced sweetness without compromising taste,” said participating exhibitor and farmer Ritesh Mohan.The festival further introduced visitors to year-round and seasonal varieties such as Krishna and Lal Sundari, while Nehal Pasand stood out for its versatility, being suitable for consumption both raw and ripe during the monsoon season.Growers from Kashipur, Uttarakhand, showcased one of the event’s most talked-about innovations — the Baramasi Balasundari, a variety capable of fruiting twice a year, including in Oct.“Cross-breeding of over 100 varieties is helping us develop resilient and high-quality mangoes that meet both domestic and global demand,” said ICAR-CISH principal scientist, Manish Mishra.Beyond fresh fruit, the festival highlighted mango’s versatility through a range of value-added products, including pulp, squash, pickles, natural mango ice cream and even mango-scented candles made from honey wax.Farmer SC Shukla said, “The varieties ranging from Elaichi to Rajawala, Madhurima, Abhaya and Samriddhi, the festival not only celebrated taste but also highlighted innovation, sustainability and the evolving future of mango cultivation in India.”
