Ram Lalla idol, Ayodhya Temple (File photo)
NEW DELHI: The world’s most expensive mango has found its way to Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir.For the first time, the prized Japanese Miyazaki mango, popularly known as the “Egg of the Sun”, was offered to Lord Ram at the temple in Ayodhya. Considered one of the rarest and costliest mango varieties in the world, the fruit is valued between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per kilogram in international markets, with a single mango estimated to cost around Rs 1 lakh.The offering was made on Monday in keeping with local traditions, with the first ripe fruit of the season presented to the deity along with a Tulsi (holy basil) leaf.The occasion was special as the mango was not grown in Japan, but in Ayodhya itself.The rare variety was cultivated by local farmer Omprakash Singh, who planted the Miyazaki sapling around two years ago to see whether it could thrive in Ayodhya’s climate. The experiment proved successful, with the tree adapting well to local conditions and producing nearly a dozen fruits this season.Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh described the mango’s unique qualities and the journey behind its cultivation. “This is a very famous mango from Japan known as Miyazaki, which is the world’s most expensive mango. It is much sweeter than other varieties, rich in fibre, and packed with vitamins. I planted the tree about two years ago to test its viability in Ayodhya’s climate, and it has yielded about a dozen fruits, each weighing between 150g and 300g. As per tradition, the first ripe mango was offered to the deity. Besides the Miyazaki, I am also growing various other varieties, including Thailand’s ‘Banana Mango,’ Australia’s ‘R2E2,’ and Indian staples like ‘Chaunsa’ and ‘Dasheri,'” Singh said.According to Singh, each fruit weighs between 150 grams and 300 grams. Staying true to a long-standing tradition, the season’s first ripe mango was offered to Lord Ram before being shared or sold.The orchard cultivated by Singh in Ayodhya is also home to collection of various mangoes from India and abroad, including Thailand’s ‘Banana Mango’, Australia’s ‘R2E2’, and beloved Indian favourites such as ‘Chaunsa’ and ‘Dasheri’.The rare fruit offering added up to the Ayodhya’s growing reputation for agricultural experimentation.During a visit to the orchard, Mahant Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj hailed the offering as both spiritually significant and symbolically fitting, noting that the first fruit of the harvest belongs to the Divine.”The mango is the king of fruits. Today, we visited Om Prakash Ji’s orchard to see the ‘Miyazaki’–Japan’s famous and the world’s most expensive mango. The fruit ripened, and the very first offering was made to the Divine; it is customary to offer everything to God first. This is truly wonderful and unique; its colour resembles that of the Sun God–the illuminator of the universe. The Sun God illuminates the entire world, and this fruit–the king of fruits–reflects that brilliance. It is a delightful occasion; this is the first fruit of the season, and it has been offered to the Divine. By God’s grace, many more fruits will grow and be offered as ‘Prasad’. This is the very first time this fruit has been produced in Ayodhya–the world’s most famous and expensive mango, grown right here. What could be a greater stroke of good fortune? I pray to the Almighty that Ayodhya continues to bring glory to itself in this manner. Offering the most expensive mango to the Divine first is a truly excellent act,” Mahant Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj told ANI.
