The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has announced a ban on the sale of meat and animal slaughter on Sunday, February 15, in Karnataka’s capital, Bengaluru. According to the directive issued on social media platform X, all slaughterhouses and meat shops across the city will remain closed.
The order was confirmed by the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, who emphasized that meat shops in the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s jurisdiction would remain closed for the day.
GBA announced the decision about X on February 12, stating:
“On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, slaughter of animals in slaughterhouses and sale of meat in shops will be completely prohibited in the entire jurisdiction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
This directive was issued by the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, GBA.’
Similar bans have been observed on other occasions
Notably, this is not the only occasion when such restrictions are imposed. Days like the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Mahatma Buddha are also observed as dry days and non-vegetarian days.
Meaning of Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is an important festival for devotees of Lord Shiva. The day symbolizes the remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance. Celebrated across India, the festival marks the union of Shiva and Shakti and honors Lord Shiva, the “destroyer of evil”.
UP CM issues law and order warning before festivals
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to take strict action against anyone who tries to disturb the peace during the upcoming festivals and warned that efforts to disturb the atmosphere during Holi, Mahashivratri and Ramzan will not be tolerated.
The chief minister, who chaired a high-level review meeting on the state’s law and order situation with senior officials, said that Holi would be celebrated from March 2 to 4 and stressed that an atmosphere of joy and communal harmony must be ensured throughout Uttar Pradesh, including the Braj region.
He also directed the authorities to prevent disruptive elements from entering the processions and to take strong action against those trying to spread riots or cause disorder.