Meat Shop Closures During Navratri Expand Across India, Raising Constitutional and Social Questions

Official bans in Delhi, Varanasi, and Maihar, alongside Uttar Pradesh's restrictions, reflect growing integration of religious practices into governance as Navratri coincides with Eid.

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.