By Tajdar H. Zaidi
Lucknow: The much-anticipated UP Mango Festival 2025 is all set to take place from July 4 to July 6 at the vibrant cultural venue of Awadh Shilpgram in Lucknow, promising to be a grand celebration of India’s beloved summer fruit — the mango — in all its richness, diversity, and luscious appeal.
Organized by the Uttar Pradesh Horticulture Department, the festival is not just a visual and culinary delight but also a strategic initiative aimed at promoting mango cultivation, value-added processing, and boosting exports.
Uttar Pradesh, often referred to as the mango capital of India, plays a dominant role in the country’s mango production. With over 3.25 lakh hectares under mango cultivation, the state contributes a staggering 27% of India’s total mango output, making this event highly significant for farmers, agribusinesses, and exporters alike.
This year’s festival will showcase over 600 distinct varieties of mangoes, ranging from household favorites like Dussehri, Langra, and Chaunsa to lesser-known but equally delectable varieties such as Amrapali, Rataul, and local heritage breeds known for their unique aroma, fiberless pulp, and exceptional sweetness.
These mangoes, grown indigenously in the fertile plains of UP, are celebrated for their superior quality — a result of the region’s alluvial soil, climate, and age-old farming practices passed down through generations.
Many of these varieties, especially Dussehri from Malihabad and Langra from Varanasi, have acquired geographical indications (GI) and are internationally acclaimed for their naturally ripened, chemical-free cultivation and full-bodied flavor.
Apart from the mango display, the festival will feature an array of cultural performances, traditional folk music, and culinary experiences, offering a delightful blend of taste and tradition.
Visitors will get a chance to participate in lively events such as mango-eating contests, a mango-cuisine competition featuring chefs and home cooks, as well as interactive workshops on critical topics like post-harvest handling, storage, value addition, branding, and pest and disease management.
A special highlight will be the buyer-seller meets, providing a much-needed platform for mango growers, exporters, and agro-industries to network and explore international trade opportunities.
In the last edition of the festival, Uttar Pradesh recorded exports of over 40 metric tonnes of mangoes to countries across the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia — a figure expected to grow significantly this year.
Adding to the inter-state flavor of the event, delegations and farmers from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Gujarat will also showcase their regional varieties, promoting cross-learning and broader agricultural cooperation.
In essence, the UP Mango Festival 2025 aims not only to entertain and engage the public but also to strengthen the entire mango value chain — from orchard to overseas. It’s a tribute to the timeless legacy and unmatched quality of India’s indigenous mangoes, celebrating their role as both a cultural symbol and a powerful driver of rural prosperity.