In a first, Varanasi to close meat and fish shops during Navratri

Varanasi: For the first time, all meat, fish and poultry shops within the municipal limits of Varanasi would remain shut during the Chaitra Navratri festival that begins Sunday. A meeting of Varanasi Municipal Corporation's executive committee chaired by mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari took a decision to this effect on Thursday.

Eid coincides with the Navratri festival this year and is likely to be celebrated on Monday, depending on the moon sighting.

The mayor has asked for strict compliance of the executive decision. When Tiwari's attention was drawn towards Eid falling during the same period, he told TOI: "Since the proposal of the closure of meat shops during Navratri was passed in the executive, it would be implemented strictly."

"They (Muslims) should consider that their Hindu brothers find Navratri the most sacred. So, at least for nine days, let it be. Is anyone stopping them for 360 days?" he added.

Tiwari said that Varanasi is a "religious and cultural capital" with nearly 2 lakh pilgrims visiting the temple town daily. "A tradition should be followed, and it should not be seen as something forced," he added.

At Thursday's meeting, executive committee member Madan Mohan Dubey proposed the closure of shops selling meat, fish, and poultry during Navratri. The committee also banned the sale of cigarettes near religious places and schools and approved charging a licence fee to cigarette vendors.Earlier this month, teams of VMC officials, led by the city veterinary officer, Dr Ajay Pratap Singh, had launched a drive to execute a decision taken by the corporation for the closure of 26 shops selling non-vegetarian food in the vicinity of Kashi Vishwanath Temple (KVT). The drive also covered Muslim-dominated localities and markets of Naisadak and Beniabagh areas.

The prohibition on the meat and liquor shops near the temple was proposed by corporator of the Adivishveshwar ward, Indresh Kumar Singh, under Section 91 (2) of the Municipal Corporation Act 1959.

During a discussion on the same proposal in the VMC in Jan, the corporators had mentioned that there are no meat and liquor shops within a radius of two to five km in temple towns like Ayodhya, Mathura and Haridwar. The proposal had been passed unanimously.