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What Happened at Lucknow's Mango Festival? A Viral Looting Incident Shocks Attendees!

The Lucknow Mango Festival, celebrated for its diverse mango varieties, ended in chaos this year as attendees looted mangoes, believing they were free. Videos of the incident went viral, prompting a mix of humor and criticism on social media. Organizers admitted to poor crowd management, while police are investigating the situation. This unusual event has sparked discussions about public behavior and event planning. Read on to find out more about this surprising turn of events!
By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 9, 2025, 16:28 IST

Chaos Unfolds at the Lucknow Mango Festival


The Mango Festival in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, renowned for showcasing a plethora of mango varieties, took a chaotic turn this year. Held from July 4 to 6, 2025, at Avadh Shilpgram, the event concluded with a frenzy as attendees rushed to grab mangoes from the displays. Videos capturing this 'mango heist' quickly spread across social media platforms.

Organized by the horticulture department of Uttar Pradesh, the festival featured over 800 mango types, including Dussehri, Langra, Chaunsa, and Alphonso. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the event, which also included mango-eating contests, technical discussions, and cultural performances.



On July 6, following the festival's conclusion, attendees mistakenly believed the mangoes were complimentary and began to take them from the tables. Viral footage depicted people of all ages climbing onto tables and gathering mangoes, stuffing them into bags and clothing. Many appeared to enjoy their 'victory' as they left with their bounty.

The incident drew significant backlash on social media, with one user commenting, "This reflects our citizenship. It's no surprise that other nations hesitate to welcome Indians." Another quipped, "Just give us a bit more time, and we’ll take the tables too." While some found humor in the situation, the majority criticized both the organizers for poor planning and the public's actions. One user suggested that education on morality and citizenship should be mandatory in schools.


This embarrassing episode was particularly notable as the same mango varieties were available for purchase outside the venue.


Organizers acknowledged their failure in crowd management, stating, "We did not anticipate such a large turnout. In the future, we will prioritize better crowd control." They also mentioned that a misunderstanding during the prize distribution led attendees to think the mangoes were free.

The Lucknow police have initiated an investigation to ascertain whether the chaos was premeditated or spontaneous. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved, although no arrests have been made thus far.