What is the National Vegetable of India?

When the government selected the national symbols, they didn't just pick the tastiest food. They picked the most resilient survivor. The massive Indian Pumpkin was chosen because it is an incredibly tough, highly aggressive plant. It does not require rich, expensive soil or special massive greenhouses to grow. It wildly grows everywhere in India—from the freezing mountains to the burning deserts, and even as a creeper weed on the roofs of poor village houses.

Another massive reason is its extreme health benefits. For thousands of years, the pumpkin has been the ultimate cheap survival food for the poorest people in India. It is massively loaded with Vitamin A, heavy fibers, and powerful antioxidants, providing extremely cheap, life-saving nutrition to millions of rural Indians.

The pumpkin (known as Kaddu, Sitaphal, or Kumra) is heavily embedded in Indian culture. It is strictly considered a pure, 'Satvik' vegetable. Because of its massive size and sweetness, it is highly worshipped and cooked during holy festivals, massive weddings, and temple feasts (Bhandaras) across the entire country.