Authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal on Monday banned the sale of meat, fish and eggs during the Hindu festival of Navratri, ANI reported.

The festival, dedicated to the Hindu deity Durga, began on Monday and will end on October 2.

“Navratri will begin from September 22,” ANI quoted Bhopal Sub-Divisional Magistrate Divya Patel as having said on Monday. “In view of this, the sale of meat, fish, and eggs has been banned in this city from September 22 to October 2.”

In Uttar Pradesh’s Harpur, the police ordered restaurants serving non-vegetarian food, along with meat shops, to remain closed till October 2, Aaj Tak reported.

A notice was issued to hotel operators and meat shops on the directive.

Circle Officer (City) Varun Mishra told Aaj Tak that all meat shops and non-vegetarian hotels have traditionally remained closed during Navratri. The police will ensure that no shops violate this rule, he said.

The directive was issued to protect the faith and religious traditions of devotees, Mishra added.

Meanwhile, Hindutva organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad has submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner in Haryana’s Gurugram seeking that all meat and fish shops stay closed during Navratri, according to India Today.

Such shops near temples, educational institutions and residential areas hurt the sentiments of devotees and inconvenience citizens, it claimed.

The Hindutva group further claimed that several shops also violated food safety standards and hygiene norms, which was a risk to public health.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Surendra Tanwar said that the group has urged the administration to “respect religious sentiments and public sentiments” and ban the sale of meat and fish, while also ensuring that hygiene standards are enforced.

The group is led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Also read: The illogic of meat bans

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