It is during the summer season that the king of all fruits appears in our country in all its grandeur. In India, over 1,000 varieties of mangoes are grown each year.

No other fruit enjoys as much popularity and fame as mangoes do. They are savoured ripe, eaten raw, enjoyed as chutneys and pickles, used to prepare desserts, and put into drinks - Indians celebrate mango in every way possible. Mango festivals are a new way of enjoying this sweet, delightful fruit. So let us check out five places in India that you can visit to witness the mango festival.

Goa Mango Festival in Goa

This Mango Festival in Goa is usually organized at the beginning of May each year. At this festival, you will come across a diversity of mango varieties, including locally harvested Alphonso and also mangoes grown in other states. You can also witness interesting competitions that are organized to determine the best-quality mango.

International Mango Festival in Delhi

The International Mango Festival is organized annually by Delhi Tourism in the month of July. This festival originated in 1998, and its popularity keeps rising each year. Here you can find over 500 varieties of mangoes from various states of the country. Apart from selling mangoes, this festival also organizes fun competitions like mango eating contests and quizzes.

Mango Mela in Chandigarh

The Mango Mela is organized every year by the Horticulture department and Haryana Tourism. This promising, fun-filled festival attracts many visitors, and here you can taste varieties of mangoes for sampling. If you have an infinite appetite for juicy fresh mangoes, you may also participate in the mango-eating competition. There are other interesting cultural performances, quiz competitions, and food courts that you can enjoy.

Mango Mela in Mysore and Bangalore

Mysore and Bangalore organize the Mango Mela annually. Local farmers grow and sell organic mangoes at the mela, and in terms of flavour and aroma, they are superior to artificially ripened mangoes. The Karnataka State Mango Development Marketing Corporation Limited partners with the Horticulture Department to organize this mango festival in May or June in Curzon Park, Mysore, and Lalbagh, Bangalore.

Bengal Mango Utsav in Kolkata

In West Bengal, nearly 400 mango varieties are grown by local farmers, and you can try about 100 varieties at this mango festival that lasts for three days. The Bengal Mango Utsav was started as an initiative by the Food Processing and Horticulture department to proudly showcase the locally-grown mango varieties of West Bengal. The festival calls for an exhibition of mangoes, and you can buy various mango products, participate in mango cooking competitions, and try other fun activities.

If you are crazy about mangoes, these festivals can offer you a taste of paradise.