India – A kaleidoscope of mangoes!

Mango is the king of all fruits. This sweet and tangy summer fruit enjoys a rich heritage in the Indian sub-continent. Mango festivals are also held in various parts of the nation, celebrating the countless varieties of this fruit. From mango drinks, to combinations with curries and even mango flavoured ice-creams, this fruit is truly a summer delicacy.

Several stories surround Mangoes. It is said that celebrated Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib was an ardent admirer of this fruit. Living up to his supreme wit, this anecdote regales all. Once while sitting with his friends, Ghalib was devouring mangoes. A friend who detested mangoes threw a piece of the fruit towards a donkey and the donkey walked away without even sniffing the mango. The friend poked Ghalib by remarking, “See, the donkey didn’t even touch the mango!” to which Ghalib replied, “You are right, only donkeys don’t eat mangoes!”

Such is the privileged position allotted to mango in the Indian subcontinent. Apeejay institutes believe in celebrating every occasion with a special touch. For it would help the students better understand the world around them and also make the education process more enjoyable. The teachers understand that everyone relates to mangoes and hence National Day Mango Day was celebrated with much joy by Apeejay School, Tanda Road students this year.

The Pre-Primary wing students of the school celebrated the day with full enthusiasm. Students across classes Nursery to UKG came dressed to the school in yellow attire, donning mango masks and mango crowns. Class 1 and 2 students brought different kinds of mangoes from home and spoke about the mango varieties they had brought, sharing interesting facts and stories related to it. Children also brought delicious food items made with mangoes. Thus, the kids indulged in the taste of summer while also appreciating the fruit’s nutritional value.

While the young guns revelled in the delicious taste of mangoes, scholars at Apeejay Stya University (ASU) in Gurugram updated about the nutritional aspects alongside expressing their love for the king of fruits. 

ASU student Gunjit Setia says that the Alphonso variety is his favourite. He asserts, “In the vast and enchanting orchards of India, you’ll find an astonishing assortment of mango varieties, each with its unique characteristics, taste, and charm. From the northern plains to the southern tip, and from the western arid lands to the eastern deltas, India embraces a kaleidoscope of mangoes, each a testament to the country’s rich agricultural heritage. The Alphonso variety of mango is my favourite as I like to drink mango shakes very much”

He further continues, “Beyond their tantalizing taste, mangoes boast a treasure trove of health benefits. They are a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C present in mangoes supports the immune system, while vitamin A is crucial for maintaining healthy vision and skin. Additionally, the antioxidant properties of vitamin E found in mangoes help combat oxidative stress, contributing to overall well-being. The fiber content in the fruit aids digestion, promoting a healthy gut or gut microbiome, and can even help regulate cholesterol levels. Mangoes also contain carotenoids like beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which are known to have anti-cancer properties. Moreover, mangoes have been associated with improving brain health due to their high content of glutamine acid, an essential amino acid required for proper brain function.”

Another ASU student, Monika Dagar said, “The king of fruit, mango, known scientifically as mangifera indica , family anacardiaceae has lots of stories with more than 30 species or varieties. We all dream of its delicious taste first, but eating mangoes can bring some miraculous health results. Its main constituent ‘mangiferin’ is essential for reducing inflammation in the heart and also eases constipation. Many do not know but the mango peel shows anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties.”

She mentions, “However, everything has its merits and demerits. Similarly over eating of mangoes will lead to skin allergic reactions like acne, pimples. So enjoy but don’t overeat!”

And rightly said by Monika, keep in mind that excess of everything is bad. But now that summer has only a few months left. Let us utilise the same to savour mango and let it fill our lives with its uncomparable sweetness.

Wishing all a happy sweet tangy delicious National Mango Day 2023!