The three-day Pran Mango Fest is under way in Dhanmondi in the capital. On the second day, Friday (11 July), a public holiday, attendance and sales both rose. Stalls at the venue were lined with rows of many varieties of mangoes; some visitors were buying, others bargaining. Several visitors said an event devoted to mangoes was quite unusual, and that many were coming because of the concert. Children were enjoying it too.

Mahful Alam came from Mohammadpur. He told Jago News: "Because today (Friday) is a holiday, I brought the whole family to the fair. We are enjoying it a lot, and enjoying the concert too. I bought 20 kg of mangoes. The prices are the same as in the market, but the mangoes I bought here are free of adulteration. More events like this would not be bad at all; you can enjoy them with the family."

Ismail Hossain Sumon, a resident of Green Road, said: "Thanks to Pran for organising such a lovely fair. I brought my two sons; they love eating mangoes. We planned last night to come. Nature, the open sky, the lake beside us and the scent of mangoes: we are enjoying all of it."

Sellers at various stalls said Amrapali is selling for Tk 60 to Tk 110 depending on size, BARI-4 for Tk 70 to Tk 80, and the Mallika variety for Tk 80. Fazli and Surma mangoes are selling at Tk 80 a kg.

Shimul, a mango seller at the Greenly stall from Chapainawabganj, said sales had risen further compared with the previous day. Many people had come with their families from different areas, and the concert nearby had drawn more people. Amrapali and Surma were selling most that day, though other varieties were selling too.

Md Safin at the Daily Shop stall said many people could not come the day before because of rain. "Sales have been good since this morning. Most customers at the fair are families, and we are getting a good response. Sales today are double yesterday's. We are selling Haribhanga at Tk 99 a kg, Amrapali at Tk 110 a kg, and Surma and Fazli at Tk 80 a kg."

Buyers of 5 kg of mangoes at the fair get a free 500 ml Pran Frooto, and buyers of 3 kg get a free 250 ml Pran Frooto.

The organisers said all kinds of mangoes grown in the country are being displayed and sold at the event, and the origins, history and heritage of different mangoes are being presented to the younger generation. Various games and traditional cultural performances from rural Bengal have also been arranged to make the festival more attractive.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.