Now that jackfruit has been elevated as the State’s official fruit, the Calicut Agri-Horticultural Society is organising a Chakka Maholsavam in Kozhikode city for the first time. The festival will be held from May 11 to 13 at Gandhi Park on Cherootty Road and will feature not just different varieties of jackfruit but also culinary preparations from it.
“Jackfruit is one fruit that does not contain any harmful pesticides or other toxins. Right from the tender stage until it is ripe, the fruit can be used for different preparations. The seed, which remains intact for around a year, is used in many dishes even when jackfruit is off season,” P.V. Gangadharan, a long- time patron of the Society told reporters here on Wednesday. Mayor Thottathil Raveendran will open the festival at 4 p.m. on Friday while Forest Minister K. Raju will visit the venue by 7 p.m.
“We are focussing on jackfruit preparations more than the varieties. However, there will be different varieties of jackfruit on sale,” said Ajith Kureethadam, Secretary of the Society.
C. Ramesh, convener of the festival, said that Adivasi Vana Samrakshana Samithi from Meenangadi, Wayanad, would present different tribal preparations of Chakka Puzhukku.
There will also be stalls, including that of Kudumbasree units, featuring mixture, snacks, pickle, jam, ice cream and payasam made of jackfruit.
The jackfruit cutting machine from Kuttiadi will be on display. The festival will be open for visitors from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
