The 35th edition of the Delhi Tourism Mango Festival commenced at Dilli Haat, Janakpuri, on Friday, bringing together mango growers, horticultural institutions and visitors to celebrate India’s best-known summer fruit. The three-day festival, which will continue until July 5, was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, Education Minister Ashish Sood, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Delhi Tourism Managing Director Sunil Anchipaka, along with representatives from agricultural institutions and the horticulture sector.
Organised annually by Delhi Tourism since 1987, the festival features an extensive display of mango varieties from across the country, including Husnara, Ratol, Ramkela, Kesar, Mallika, Amrapali, Fazli and Hathi Jhool. Visitors can also view unusually small and large mango varieties, ranging in size from grape-like fruits to those comparable to papayas.
The festival aims to provide a common platform for mango growers, exporters, research institutions and nurseries while promoting the cultivation of indigenous and improved varieties. In addition to fresh fruit, stalls are offering mango-based products and saplings for sale.
Several agricultural and research institutions are participating in this year’s festival, including the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Pusa), ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and the Directorate of Horticulture, Uttar Pradesh.
Private nurseries, conservation groups and growers from Uttar Pradesh and other mango-producing regions have also set up stalls to exhibit their produce and interact with visitors.
Among the attractions planned during the festival is the Men’s Mango Eating Competition, scheduled for Saturday.
Delhi Tourism has arranged a complimentary shuttle service between Tilak Nagar Metro Station and Dilli Haat, Janakpuri, to facilitate visitor access. The festival remains open daily from noon to 9 p.m. and concludes on July 5.