Mangalluru (The Hindu): Here is a chance to taste different varieties of food made from jackfruit. A two-day ‘Halasu Mela’, the last jackfruit festival of the year here, will begin at Pilikula Nisargadhama from July 16.

The festival will be organised in Pilikula Urban Haath in front of the Pilikula Biological Park.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, H.J. Bhandary, Executive Director of the nisargadhama, said that 55 stalls would be put up. There would be exhibition and sale of different varieties of jackfruit.

‘Rudraskhi halasu’ would be a major attraction along with local ‘barika’ and ‘tuluva’ varieties.

There would be value-added products of jackfruit like ‘halwa’, ‘happala’, ‘mambala’, ‘garige’, ‘jelli’, chips, ‘payasam’, ‘santani’, ‘sukkeli’, jackfruit in brine and the like.

Varieties of products made from jackfruit seed like ‘chutni pudi’, ‘halwa’, and soup would also be available.

Shivanna of Sakharayapatna would demonstrate and sell ‘jaffi’ made from jackfruit seed.

There would a be demonstration of grafting and sale of saplings of jackfruit.

In addition, mangoes would also be sold at the festival. There would be an interaction on jackfruit cultivation and its value addition. Shree Padre, a crusader of jackfruit, would speak on jackfruit and rainwater harvesting.

Free mini bus facility has been arranged from Vamanjoor to the festival venue on both the days.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, departments of Agriculture, and Horticulture and the nisargadhama have organised the festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.