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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mango festival celebrates diverse varieties and cultural heritage in new delhi
New Delhi: The capital's much-awaited celebration of the king of fruits—the 34th Mango Festival—was inaugurated by chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday at Thyagaraj Stadium. Organised by Delhi tourism, the event brought together mango growers, food lovers, and cultural enthusiasts under one roof. The inaugural ceremony was attended by tourism minister Kapil Mishra, chief secretary Dharmendra, MLA Neeraj Basoya, and Delhi tourism and transportation development corporation's managing director Niharika Rai, among others. Held annually since 1987, the Mango Festival is a tribute to India's most beloved fruit. This year, the event features a vibrant exhibition of over 400 mango varieties—from the tiny Husnara to the papaya-sized Haathijhool. Other exotic names like Rataul, Ramkela, Mallika, Amrapali, Litchi, and Fazli are also drawing attention. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The festival provides a platform for farmers, exporters, and research institutions to showcase their produce and mango-based products. Key participants this year include ICAR-IARI Pusa, GB Pant University, Bihar Agricultural University, and the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, among others. Reminiscing about her childhood memories associated with mangoes, CM Gupta lauded the tourism department's efforts in organising the annual showcase. "Mangoes are not just fruits, they're part of our tradition and collective nostalgia," she said while unveiling the official mascot of the festival. She urged Delhiites to visit the stadium and enjoy the festivities. India, home to nearly 1,000 of the world's 1,500 mango varieties, produces up to 64% of the global mango supply. Uttar Pradesh alone contributes over 25%, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Maharashtra. There are more than 400 varieties of mango on display this year. To attract visitors, mango-eating competitions (for both men and women), sale of fresh mangoes and mango-based products, cultural performances and traditional dances, and kids' zones, quizzes, and selfie spots have been planned by the tourism department. The festival is open to the public until June 29, from 11 am to 9 pm daily. Delhi Tourism is running a free shuttle service from INA Metro Station to ensure convenient access for visitors.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
1k horses & mules quarantined after 'virus outbreak' on Kedarnath yatra route
DEHRADUN: Over 1,000 mules and horses have been quarantined and equine services on the Kedarnath yatra route suspended for a third day after a flu-like outbreak affected horses and mules. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The quarantine was initiated after 15 animals died and symptoms of equine influenza were detected, leading to concerns over animal health and the risk of further spread. Caretakers and officials from the animal husbandry department isolated the animals showing signs such as fever, cough, and nasal discharge. The Rudraprayag district administration extended the suspension of mule services on the route, which had already been halted on Tuesday and Wednesday. A team of vets from the National Research Centre on Equines, Haryana, visited Kedarnath to assess the situation. Their report is awaited. Out of the 5,800 equines registered for the pilgrimage, 15 have died since the yatra began last week, mostly due to colic and diarrhoea. A senior veterinary officer told TOI, "Four days ago, samples were collected. As reports are still coming in, around 18 samples tested RTPCR positive for equine influenza, after which we started screening." The infected animals have been removed from the yatra. They will be re-tested after 14 days using the RTPCR method, which checks for the virus via nasal swab. Vets confirmed that EI is a highly contagious respiratory disease with high morbidity but low mortality. Veterinary teams in Rudraprayag have screened around 2,000 animals in the last two days. Nearly 700 of them are receiving treatment. Handlers have been advised to quarantine animals at their current locations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Some have taken their equines back due to the challenging terrain and conditions. Screening and medical aid are ongoing in Gaurikund, Sonprayag, and Rampur. Dr Neeraj Singhal, director of the animal husbandry department, said, "The horses are recovering due to the rest they are getting. Soon they will resume service." Experts from GB Pant University were expected in Kedarnath by Wednesday to study symptoms such as swollen stomachs and diarrhoea, which were also observed in the equines that died. Singhal added, "The equines that died earlier had these symptoms, so samples were collected by NRCE. Now, GB Pant experts will also share their expertise with us." The Rudraprayag administration has warned against overcharging pilgrims and using home remedies on the animals, which could be considered cruelty under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009. State animal husbandry minister Sourabh Bahuguna is expected to visit Kedarnath on Thursday morning to review the situation.
