UP bans meat sale near religious places over Navratri; full meat ban in Varanasi

Ahead of the commencement of the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival on Sunday, 30 March, the Uttar Pradesh government has directed the closure of illegal slaughterhouses and a ban on the sale of meat within 500 metres of religious places.

Special restrictions will be imposed for Ram Navami on 6 April, when animal slaughter and the sale of meat will be completely banned.

Principal secretary to the Uttar Pradesh urban development department Amrit Abhijat has directed all district magistrates, police commissioners and municipal commissioners to immediately close the slaughterhouses and enforce the ban on meat sale near religious places, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement on Saturday, 29 March.

Citing the orders issued in 2014 and 2017, the Yogi Adityanath government has clarified that illegal animal slaughter and sale of meat near religious places will be completely prohibited.

To make this decision effective, district-level committees have been formed under the chairmanship of district magistrates. These will include officials from the police, Pollution Control Board, animal husbandry department, transport department, labour department, health department and Food Safety Administration.

Under the provisions of the UP Municipal Corporation Act 1959 and the Food Safety Act 2006 and 2011, the Yogi Adityanath government has directed the officials to take strict punitive action against the violators, the statement said.

"There will be no meat/fish shop within a radius of 500 metres during Navratri. Even outside this radius, they will operate under the terms of the licence. No one will sell in the open. All shops will remain closed on the day of Ram Navami," state director of information and public relations Shishir Singh said in a statement later.

The nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga will commence on Sunday (March 30).

Earlier, on Friday, 28 March, Varanasi Municipal Corporation had — in a first — said that all fish and meat shops within its limits will remain closed during Navratri.

A proposal regarding this was passed unanimously at an executive council meeting of the municipal corporation on Thursday, 27 March.

Announcing the decision on Friday, Varanasi mayor Ashok Tiwari said, "Considering the religious significance of Kashi and sentiments of the devotees, it has been decided to close all fish and meat shops during Navratri."

Any shopkeeper found violating this order will face strict action, he said.

The decision has drawn strong criticism from a section of corporators, who argued it will impact the livelihoods of thousands of people.

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation comprises 100 corporators, including 14 from the Muslim community. The majority are Hindus.

Alipur corporator Raazia Begum said the decision was taken by the 12-member executive council and the mayor. "We will oppose this decision when it comes to the House," she said.

The corporator argued that a blanket closure of businesses for the entire nine-day period is unjust. "This will lead to thousands of people from marginalised communities, who run these meat shops, losing business," she said. (Many Hindus in the meat business are of lower castes, including Dalit communities.)

The corporator called for a balanced approach that respects both religious sentiments and economic realities. "The municipal corporation could compensate those who close shops. Alternatively, it could close only the shops around the temple," she proposed.

The Alipur corporator also expressed optimism that the mayor would find a resolution that addresses all concerns.

The eight-day Navratri festival will begin on 30 March and conclude on April 6, with Ram Navami.

Last year, a similar ban was declared on Ayodhya for the autumn Navratri of October 2024.

Edited PTI inputs