India’s meat industry is growing fast and is expected to reach a value of about $35.87 billion by 2025, according to Statista. However, non-vegetarian food is completely banned in one city in India. You can’t buy, sell, or eat meat there at all. Can you guess which city it is?
The Only City Where Non-Vegetarian Food is Entirely Prohibited
Vegetarian dishes form an essential part of daily meals in many families in India. But non-vegetarian food also has a strong presence and continues to grow in daily meals. India stands out globally for its deep-rooted vegetarian culture, adopted across the country, from West Bengal in the east to Gujarat in the west. The meat industry is booming, with projections showing it could be worth nearly $35.87 billion by 2025, as per Statista. Despite that, there is one Indian city that has taken a unique stance by completely banning the sale and consumption of non-vegetarian food. Curious to find out which city it is?
Palitana: The World’s First City to Ban Non-Vegetarian Food
Palitana, a city in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, to officially ban selling and eating non-vegetarian food, in the first place in the world. This decision was made in 2014 after more than 200 Jain monks went on a hunger strike. They asked for about 250 butcher shops to be shut down, and the government agreed, respecting their religious beliefs and banning all non-vegetarian food.
Although non-veg food is banned, the city has many delicious vegetarian options. Since it’s an important place for Jain pilgrims, the city has many delicious vegetarian dishes. The ban has helped keep the city’s religious atmosphere and has led to more vegetarian restaurants, which also helps the local economy.
Palitana is also deeply respected for its strong Jain heritage. It is one of the most sacred places for Jain devotees and is home to the famous Shatrunjaya Hills, which houses over 800 beautifully carved Jain temples.
