It’s a special time for mango lovers at Lalbagh, the venue of a ‘Mango Mela’, on till June 15. Several farmers are offering direct sales of quality mangoes, which are naturally ripened and tasty.
The Horticulture Department has recorded the year 2007 an ‘on’ year for mango, and with about 11,03,677 tons of the fruit being produced in the State, huge quantity of mangoes have reached city’s markets.
Yet, the mela at Lalbagh is attracting hundreds of visitors due to the tag of authenticity Lalbagh carries as well as the freedom of choice it offers to buyers, despite no actual difference in prices from market rates.
Horticulture Director (Fruits) S V Hithalamani, said Sunday (June 3) saw record sales at the mela with many individual farmers raking in about Rs 80,000 to Rs two lakh. Mallika, Alphonso (Badami), Rasapuri, Malagova, Banganpalli are the fast moving varieties, while varieties like Dashera, Ratna, Sindhu, Neelam and others are also selling well.
B N Chandra Reddy of Pragathi Fruits, a mango grower with a stall at the mela, said, “The mela was very useful for farmers who can benefit from selling their produce.
“We can sell fruits without the interference of middlemen. And we are also having fun competing with each other to present the best fruits to consumers.’’
Kamalamma, a visitor buying fruits at the mela said: “I am happy that different varieties of mangoes are available at a single place. This also gives us a chance to satisfy ourselves about the quality.”

Organic mangoes
Organic mangoes are another attraction. Priced slightly higher than the usual ones, these furits grown using only natural manures and green pesticides, are healthier. Apart from fruits, mango products like pickles, mango powder, juice concentrates, mango papads, syrup, bars, toffies, lollies, etc., are being sold. Mango juice and milkshake are also available.

Mango kurkure!
Mangoes needn’t all be sweet. Try this fried wafer snack spiced up with mango masala, an sold specially at this mela!
Twenty-two-year-old Manjunath of Kolar makes these spciy wafers along with his mother and elder brother at home and brands the product under ‘Kumar Home Foods’, which they sell at other fairs too.
The Mango Mela, near Lalbagh Glass House, is open between 8 am and 8 pm, till June 15. No seperate fee other than the entry tickets to Lalbagh.