Overview

• Delhi, Varanasi, and Maihar have implemented official bans on meat sales during the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival, with enforcement measures underway.
• The Uttar Pradesh government has prohibited meat sales within 500 meters of religious sites, citing prior directives to uphold religious sanctity.
• Varanasi's municipal authorities announced their first-ever citywide closure of meat shops during Navratri, emphasizing the city's cultural and religious significance.
• The overlap of Navratri and Eid this year has intensified debates on religious sensitivities, constitutional rights, and communal harmony in India.
• Critics argue the closures disproportionately affect small, often Muslim-owned businesses, while some Muslim leaders have expressed support for respecting Hindu sentiments.