Mango - Eat and Treat

Summers seem joyous with myriad mangoes all over.

- Dr. Sanmathi P Rao

The thought of Mangoes is mouth-watering, but did you know it has great medicinal values. The bark, leaf, flowers, fruit, seed and root offer a variety of medicinal purposes. If you have travelled on road especially in warmer regions like UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Central India you will be awed by the beautiful sight of Mango trees. The large ever-green trees with widely spreading branches and dark coloured bark withleaves crowded at the end of the branches and numerous mangoes (green /yellow) hanging down is festive to the eyes. The fruits come in varied sized right from small lemon sized ones to large baseball sized ones.

Some Interesting facts:

The king of fruits, Mango is the national fruit of India.

Though its popularity is in the midst of summer if observed it is introduced during Vasant Panchami (March/April). In Hindu tradition, mango leaves are a must during festivals. They are considered auspicious and spread positivity. We even décor our home entrance door by hanging up the leaves as an epitome of fortune and blessing.

There are almost 24 varieties of mango. Right from Alphonso of Ratnagiri to Malda of West Bengal, from Dasheri of UP to Totapuri and Raspuri of Karnataka.

A great variety of dishes are prepared with mango depending on culinary arts – Aamchur(dry mango powder), pulpy mango seekarane, satiating mango juice, mango shrikhand, raw mango