Lucknow: Along with traditional favourites like Dussheri, Chausa and Langda, people explored a wider range of mango varieties of different colours, sizes and taste profiles at the UP Mango Festival at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, on Saturday. The festival will conclude on Sunday.Exotic and hybrid varieties such as Tommy Atkins, Gulab Khas, Taiwan Red Mango, Pusa Arunima and those which stood out for their appearance, shelf life and unique flavour attracted significant attention of visitors. “There is curiosity to try something different, especially mangoes that look unique or come from other regions such as Lalima, Shrestha, Amrapali and Kapoori,” said Aditya Srivastava, a visitor.Imam Pasand and Noorjahan are large and rich in pulp, while Fazli and Malgova are known for high yield and suitability for processing. Totapuri and Banganapalli remained popular for pulp-based products. Kesar and Himsagar combine sweetness and aroma.Hybrid varieties Mallika, Ambika and Pratibha are disease-resistant, while Surya stands out for colour and Neelam for its longer shelf-life. Bombay Green and Safeda are popular as they are available early in the season.“People are also looking at the colour, size and how long the fruit lasts. Tommy Atkins and Taiwan Red Mango are getting attention for these reasons,” said Rakesh Verma, a mango grower from Malihabad.Another visitor, Mahika Ahuja, said, “I found Gulab Khas and Mallika interesting. They look different and have a distinct taste. Mango Apple and sindoor are attractive for their red colour and apple shape.”Horticulturist, S C Shukla, who showcased multiple varieties, said hybrid and improved varieties such as Shukla Pasand, Pusa Arunima and Nehal Pasand are important for farmers because they give better yields.Some lesser-known varieties like Nazuk Badan, Vanraj, Kalla Patti, Elaichi and Pakuti also drew curiosity among visitors.“Farmers are now focusing on varieties that not only taste good but also meet market needs like shelf-life and transport, with examples such as Taiwan Red Mango for longer shelf life and Totapuri for processing and bulk handling. Various hybrid varieties such as Rangeen Barahamasi, Red Ivory and Romani are also gaining interest,” said agriculture expert, Meenakshi Tiwari.
