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'Mango Passion 2017' opens in Lulu

Published: 11 May 2017 - 01:11 am | Last Updated: 14 Nov 2021 - 07:08 am
Ambassador of India to Qatar, P Kumaran, inaugurating the Mango Festival — Mango Passion 2017 — at the D-Ring Road branch of Lulu Hypermarket yesterday. Lulu Group Director, Mohamed Althaf, several dignitaries from the Ministry, retail/FMCG sectors, diffe

Ambassador of India to Qatar, P Kumaran, inaugurating the Mango Festival — Mango Passion 2017 — at the D-Ring Road branch of Lulu Hypermarket yesterday. Lulu Group Director, Mohamed Althaf, several dignitaries from the Ministry, retail/FMCG sectors, diffe

The Peninsula

Lulu Hypermarket Group has organised the Mango Festival by the name of ‘Mango Passion 2017’ from 10th to 17th May. The festival was inaugurated by P Kumaran, the Ambassador of India to Qatar, at Lulu Hypermarket, D-Ring Road, in the presence of Mohamed Althaf, Director of Lulu Group, and a host of dignitaries from the Ministry, retail/FMCG sectors, different communities and officials from the Lulu chain.
Lulu Group has been organising the Mango Festival for the last 14 years in succession and they are the first hypermarket to introduce this Festival to the Middle East and in Qatar it was organised for the first time in 2003. Every year, it draws an overwhelming response from all corners.
The management says that this festival is going to be different for connoisseurs of mangoes in Qatar. They are being focussed under a promotional campaign that not only highlights the mango season to its maximum but also introduces the many flavours of more than 60 varieties of the luscious fruit mainly grown all over India, and around the world. This year the Festival will exhibit a wide variety of popular and delicious mangoes from India, Yemen, Malaysia, Kenya, Thailand, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Ivory Coast, Peru, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, USA, Mexico and Spain namely Malgova, Himapasanth, Chakkaragund, Mallika, Moovandan, Priyoor, Alphonso, Badami, Rajapuri, Thottapuri, Kesar, Daseri, Neelam, Sindooram, White Malgova, Rumaniya, Cheeri, Kesar, KO Mango, Vazhapoo, Nadan, Nadasala, Natty Gold, Panchavarnam, Green Sweet, Nam Doc, Kartha Colombo, Red Villard, Kent, Palmer and Ataulfo etc. Besides, the festival will also exhibit organic mangoes of historical importance.
The Festival will also feature a wide range of mango-based products namely Mango Raita, Mango Chick Peas Salad, Chemmeen Mango Curry, Fresh Mango Cake, Nada Fresh Mango, Manbazha Payasam, Mango Muffin, Mango Swiss Roll, Igloo Mango Ice Cream, Eastern Mango Pickle, Rani Juice Mango and Tango Instant Milk etc.
Lulu outlets have made it convenient for the connoisseurs of this exotic fruit to taste the versatility and to buy the best taste that suits their palate. The idea behind the festival was to promote the agricultural produce of India and to make it popular among the local community and in the Middle East at large.
Mangoes are seasonal fruits; full season of fresh mango fruit begins in March and lasts until August, when the rich fragrance of the fruit heralds its arrival, and is usually harvested while they are green but perfectly mature. Unripe ones are extremely sour in taste. It is believed to have originated in the sub-Himalayan plains of the Indian subcontinent and is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruit with unique flavour, fragrance, taste, and health promoting qualities making it a common ingredient in new functional foods.
It is quite interesting to know that mango is the national fruit of many countries viz India, Pakistan and Philippines, and mango tree is the national tree of Bangladesh. In Australia, where mangoes are considered a symbol of summer, the first tray of mangoes of the season is traditionally sold at an auction for charity.
Mango fruit is rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidant compounds. According to a new research study, mango fruit has been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotenes and potassium is good to protect body from lung and oral cavity cancers.