Dragon Fruit will be renamed ‘Kamalam’, a Sanskrit word for lotus, in Gujarat.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the name ‘Dragon Fruit’ did not seem appropriate. “The dragon fruit looks like a lotus. That is why it was decided to call it ‘ Kalamam’”, he added.
He also said that there were no political reasons behind the name change.
The new name sparked meme fest on social media.
Dragon Fruit
Pitaya fruit, pitahaya fruit, commonly known as the dragon fruit, is a fruit from Central America, South America, and Asia. It has a light sweet taste, an intense shape and colour, and has a texture of between that of a kiwi and an apple.
Dragon fruit is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which are good for the immune system. It can boost iron levels. It contains a lot of water and other important minerals with varied nutritional ingredients.
The fruit is often considered a tropical “super-food” because of its health benefits. It has its origins in Mexico, South America, and Central America. New World settlers probably brought it to Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, where it is still an important part of the diet.