National Mango Day - 22 July

Tags: Important Days

National Mango Day is celebrated every year on 22 July.

An Overview of the News

• The history of the International Mango Festival can be traced back to 1987 when the National Horticulture Board of India came up with the idea of celebrating the mango fruit.

• Mango cultivation in India dates back more than 5,000 years and has an important place in Indian folklore, with legends linking it to Lord Buddha.

• The English and Spanish name "mango" has its roots in the Malayan word "manna", which was transformed into "manga" by the Portuguese during their spice trade ventures in Kerala in the 1490s.

• Around 300 - 400 AD mango seeds were carried by humans from Asia to various parts of the world including the Middle East, East Africa and South America.

• In India, mangoes are a symbol of love and friendship, and various parts of the mango tree, including the leaves, bark, skin, kernels, and flesh, have been used in folk remedies for centuries.

• Mangoes belong to the Anacardiaceae family, which also includes cashews and pistachios.