The weather has started to shift, and so have weekend plans for many families across Punjab. With schools closed and the summer heat giving way to cloudy skies, a short trip to the Mango Festival in Pinjore is now on many calendars.
Starting July 4, the three-day event will be held at the historic Yadavindra Gardens, located barely 25 km from Chandigarh. Though the venue falls under Haryana, it’s long been a weekend favourite for people from Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana, Zirakpur, and other border towns.
Over 200 Mango Varieties on Display
What draws people in every year is simple: mangoes, and lots of them. Visitors can expect to see more than 200 varieties of mangoes lined up across stalls. These include Langra, Dussehri, Chausa, and Amrapali are well known, but there are also several other varieties. These are smaller, softer or meant only for picking.
These mangoes aren’t just for show. Growers from different states, including Punjab, will be selling them directly. Shoppers can taste a slice, ask questions, and pick their favourites to carry home in bulk. For many visitors, it’s not just about the fruit, it’s also about meeting the people who grow it and learning a bit about how each type is harvested.
Fun for Children and Parents
The festival isn’t only about fruit. Over the three days, organisers have lined up several activities for children. From drawing contests to group singing, and from slogan writing to the ever-popular mango-eating challenge, the garden turns into a playground for young visitors.
Children from schools across the region often come in groups, while parents enjoy shaded lawns and a peaceful atmosphere. It is an event where no one feels left out. Kids stay busy with games and competitions while older family members walk around, sip on cold drinks or sit under the trees.
Culture, Crafts, and Street Food
As the sun goes down, folk performers take over the stage. Colorful dresses, drum beats and traditional songs fill the air. Dance groups and musicians from nearby towns put on shows that attract a huge crowd.
There’s also a acraft section in the garden. Local artisans from Punjab, Himachal and Rajasthan will be putting up stalls. Items like embroidered dupattas, clay pots, wooden toys and hand woven mats are usually on sale.
Then there is food. Visitors can find food stalls serving golgappas, chole abature, and the much loved aam panna. Some families come just to enjoy these dishes, especially the seasonal treats that aren’t easy to find elsewhere.
Simple Arrangements, Easy Travel
The organisers have kept the setup clean and functional. Drinking water is available across the garden. Mobile toilets and shaded areas are marked for visitors. Decorative lights have been kept low power this year to keep energy use in check.
Special buses will run from Chandigarh and Panchkula, and many people from Punjab prefer to drive in their own vehicles. Entry to the event is open and doesn’t require registration. Local security and health teams will be stationed at the venue. The opening ceremony will be attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Close to Home, Full of Charm
Though the event takes place outside Punjab, the crowd each year tells a different story. Many from Banur, Kharar, and Rajpura visit without even thinking twice. For them, the festival has always felt close to home. It’s not a big city fair. It’s a simple garden, full of colour, fruit, and familiar faces. And for many Punjabis, that’s more than enough.
The rich greenery of Pinjore Gardens, combined with social exhibitions, society music, nourishment slows down, and mango-themed diversions, has turned the occasion into a idealize end of the week family excursion. Children’s exercises, live craftsmanship appears, and conventional move exhibitions include to the dynamic atmosphere.
Tourists and mango partners from Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, and other parts of Punjab have run to the scene, making the celebration a territorial fascination. Nearby sellers and artisans are moreover profiting from the expanded footfall.
Running through the end of the week, the Mango Celebration at Pinjore Gardens proceeds to offer a reviving mix of taste, convention, and tourism — all centered around one of India’s most adored natural products.
