200 varieties on display as Mango Mela kicks off at Yadavindra Gardens in Pinjore

The 32nd edition of the Mango Mela was inaugurated on Friday at Yadavindra Gardens in Pinjore by Haryana’s Minister for Heritage and Tourism Dr Arvind Sharma and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana. Organised by the Departments of Heritage and Tourism and Horticulture, the three-day festival showcases over 200 varieties of mangoes from across the region, aiming to promote mango cultivation and celebrate India’s rich horticultural heritage.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Sharma highlighted the government’s vision to promote Haryana as a leading tourist destination under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. He shared that 500 acres of land was identified in Gurugram for the Disneyland project, a move expected to significantly strengthen the state and national economy.

Referring to last year’s footfall of 1.2 million visitors at the Surajkund Mela, Dr Sharma expressed confidence that this year’s event would attract over 1.8 million people. He also announced that the Surajkund fair would now be held three times a year due to growing popularity.

This year’s Mango Festival includes stalls by mango growers for the first time, offering tourists a chance to taste and purchase mangoes directly. Dr Sharma called for collaborative efforts between the tourism, horticulture and agriculture departments to preserve endangered mango varieties and economically empower growers. While emphasising on the importance of preserving mangoes rich diversity, he said, “India is the birthplace of mango, famously known as the king of fruits.”

Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana congratulated the public on the occasion and outlined the Modi-led government’s efforts to enhance farmers’ incomes. He shared that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Saini, Haryana was promoting natural farming. Farmers practising chemical-free cultivation on one acre were eligible for Rs 30,000 subsidy for maintaining one cow, and those shifting from paddy to natural farming received Rs 8,000 per acre. He stressed that natural farming was key to improving public health and urged collective movement in this direction.

The event also featured cultural performances by artistes Ashok Masti and Haryanvi singer Saurav Atri, who entertained the audience. Minister Dr Arvind Sharma, known for his love for arts, joined the celebrations by singing a popular folk tune “Pani aali pani pya de” with great enthusiasm. The festival’s opening ceremony saw the presence of dignitaries including Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Pankaj Agarwal, Principal Secretary of Heritage and Tourism Kala Ramachandran, Tourism MD Dr Shaleen, GM Ashutosh Rajan, former Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, senior BJP leader Banto Kataria, CM’s OSD Bharat Bhushan Bharti, Shivalik Board Vice-Chairman Om Prakash Devnagar, Dr Sharma’s wife Dr Rita Sharma, Gau Seva Commission Chairman Swarn Garg, BJP district president Ajay Mittal, Amar Pal Rana, Ranjita Mehta, and administration officials.