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Author: Dr Jaswant Singh Puri, Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa), Social Activist
India
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Chandigarh, July 21, 2025:
Mango lovers across India celebrate National Mango Day every year on July 22, which carries rich cultural, historical and economic significance. The mango season typically runs from April to July. Vedas and Puranas also mention mangoes as symbols of prosperity, love and fertility. The Mughal emperors, like Akbar and Babur, were great admirers of this fruit. Even the Urdu poets like Mirza Ghalib and Khusro had a great love for mangoes. Ghalib once quoted about mangoes:
Mujhse Poochho, tumhen khabar kya hai
Aam kea agey neyshakar kya hai.
(Ask me! For what do you know? A mango is far sweeter than sugarcane.)
Mangoes are intensely associated in the Indian way of life and hold a special place in religious rituals, art, literature and cuisine. India’s diverse climate and geography have been able to produce hundreds of mango varieties. The famous ones include #Alphonso, #Kesar, Dashehri, Langra, Banganapalli, #Amarpali, #Neelam, Chausa, etc. In fact, the mango’s journey began over 5000 years ago in parts of Eastern India and Southeast Asia. India bears a special place in the mango’s lineage. From India, it established its global presence.
National Mango Day was established in 1987 by the National Horticulture Board of India. Khushwant Singh, the leading journalist and novelist, had a deep love for mangoes. His love for mangoes is often reflected in his writings. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the First Prime Minister of India, was known for his gifting mangoes to foreign dignitaries. The present P.M. Narendra Modi is fond of mangoes.
Dr Ajit Singh Puri, M.D. (Medicine), father of the author, told him that mangoes are enjoyed by foreigners. He observed this fact during his various visits to the U.K., USA, Canada, etc.; especially during his meetings in the General Medical Council, London, on the invitation of Lord Walton,President, British Medical Association, London. Dr Ajit S. Puri, author of the world-acclaimed book “Speaking of How to Prevent Common Diseases”, told the author that mango is a nutritious food containing multivitamins, minerals and fibres. It is a matter of pride and pleasure that the author donated 450 bottles of mango drinks to the Society for Welfare of the Handicapped, Patiala.
Also, Shri Vishwajit Khanna, IAS, the then D.C. Patiala, while inaugurating Rotary Bhawan, Patiala, honoured Dr. Ajit Singh Puri with a memento, which was followed by a party of mangoes and mangoes only. It may also be added that the maternal grandfather of the author, the late Shri Shivraj Kapoor, was a noted owner of mango orchards in Roorkee, Dehradun, and Uttarakhand. The family is the major distributor of mangoes in Delhi Fruit Market. Moreover, Mrs Alka Puri, mother of the author, excelled in managing Mango Parties during her tenure as Secretary, Ladies Club, Punjabi University, Patiala. Let us also enjoy this Mango Day to the full.
