After Maharashtra, now Rajasthan bans sale of meat during Jain festival

Following the Maharashtra government, now the Rajasthan government on 9 September ordered a three-day ban on sale of meat during the Jain festival this month.

The state's directorate of local bodies issued the order that slaughterhouses as well as meat and fish shops will remain close on 17 and 18 September for Paryushan, a festival of Shwetambar Jains, and 27 September for Anant Chaturdashi, celebrated by Digambars.

The letter on this was sent to the heads of all civic bodies municipal corporations, councils and municipalities as well as district collectors. Though the directorate also prohibited the sale of liquor during that period, it later rescinded the order because it did not have the jurisdiction to do so.

Earlier the Vasundhara Raje government in 2008 had put up a ban for nine days, four days each for Shwetambars and Digambars and one common day.

However after coming in power the Ashok Gehlot led Congress government, had reduced the ban to four days. Now, it is in effect only for three days.