Uttar Pradesh Government bans sale of meat within 500 m of religious places during Navratri

Ahead of the commencement of the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival on Sunday (March 30, 2025), 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 April 6, when animal slaughter and the sale of meat will be completely banned.

Urban Development Department Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat has directed all the 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 (March 29, 2025). 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 U.P. 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 license. No one will sell in the open. All shops will remain closed on the day of Ram Navami," Director Information Shishir said in a statement later.

The nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga will commence on Sunday (March 30, 2025).