Delicious honour: Bihar's mangoes, litchis for president, PM

Patna, May 29: Bihar's famous Shahi (royal) litchis and Zardalu mangoes are to be sent as gifts to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as to diplomats next week, said officials Wednesday.

"Bihar government has decided to gift baskets of luscious 'Shahi' litchis and special 'Zardalu' mangoes to VIPs in New Delhi, including the president, prime minister and diplomats," an official in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's office said here.

A total of 600 packets, each containing five kg of Zardalu mangoes, will be sent to Delhi to be distributed among VIPs as gifts from Bihar, Bhagalpur district agriculture official Dinesh Prasad Singh told IANS over telephone.

"Once again Zardalu mangoes from the orchards of Sultanganj will be gifted to Rashtrapati Bhavan," Singh said.

He said Zardalu mangoes have unique aroma, flavour and sweetness.

According to him, Zardalu mangoes will also be gifted to others, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The government officials in Muzaffarpur district, known for 'Shahi litchis', said that a top official from Patna has directed officials concerned to prepare around 600 packets of litchis to be sent to Delhi.

More than 70 percent of India's litchis are produced in Muzaffarpur and the region's Shahi fruits are known for their aroma and taste worldwide.

The official said the summer gifts would help promote Bihar's special fruits.

The state government had sent boxes of Shahi litchis as gifts and presents last year too.

IANS