In a first, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation has announced that all the meat shops in the city will remain closed during the upcoming Navratri festival.
A proposal regarding this was passed unanimously at an Executive Council meeting of the municipal corporation on Thursday.
“Considering the religious significance of Kashi and sentiments of the devotees, it has been decided to close all fish and meat shops during Navratri,” Mayor Ashok Tiwari said in a statement announcing the decision on Friday. “Strict action will be taken against any shopkeeper found to be in violation of this order,” he stated.
While speaking to news agency ANI, Municipal Commissioner Akshat Verma said that preparations are undereway to enforce the order. To ensure compliance, the civic body will first run a public awareness campaign.
Akshat Verma said, “As per the decision taken by the executive board, we have decided that the meat shops in the municipal area will remain closed during the Navratri, and we are working to implement that. At first, we will run a campaign to make people aware of this, and we have our vans that will roam around to see if someone is opening such shops and we will take action accordingly…”
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Municipal Commissioner, Nagar Nigam Varanasi, Akshat Verma says, “As per the decision taken by the executive board, we have decided that the meat shops in the municipal area will remain closed during the Navratri, and we are working to implement that. At… pic.twitter.com/TTtF8BAHDK
— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2025
What Alipur Corporator Said?
Alipur corporator Raazia Begum said 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.
The corporator advocated for a fair strategy that takes into account both economic realities and religious beliefs. “The municipal corporation could compensate those who close shops. Alternatively, it could close only the shops around the temple,” she proposed.
The Navratri festival will begin on March 30 and will conclude on April 6.
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