THIS Indian city is the first one in the world to ban non-vegetarian food

Situated in the Bhavnagar district of the Indian state of Gujarat, the city of Palitana has emerged as the first city in the world to declare non-vegetarian food as illegal.

The historic decision to ban non-veg foods was taken after the sale and consumption of meat as well as the butchering of animals for meat was declared illegal and punishable by law in the city of Palitana. The city is a famous pilgrimage site for Jains.

The decision was taken after nearly 200 Jain monks held protests demanding that nearly 250 butcher shops in the city be closed.

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About Palitana - a revered place for Jains

Palitana, which is located in Gujarat, is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains. The place, which is located around Shatrunjaya Hills, is also known as the Jain Temple Town.

There are more than 800 temples in the city, the most famous among them is Adinath Temple.

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The orders to regulate the selling of non-vegetarian food were also imposed in Rajkot city. In this city, which is also inGujarat, orders were issued to stop the preparation and display of non-vegetarian food in public spaces.

Similar orders were issued in the Indiancities ofVadodara, Junagadh and Ahmedabad, located in the same state. The people, who opposed the display of non-vegetarian food, said that seeingmeat in the open can hurt people's sensitivities and negatively impact people.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that such regulations were also imposed to reduce traffic congestion.

Vegetarianism in Gujarat

Vegetarianism was epitomised by Mahatma Gandhi in Gujarat and his ideology was piously followed by millions.

However, the father of the nation had said that he once consumed meat during his school days, when his elder brother's friend had asked him to eat mutton.

But for the rest of his life, Gandhi avoided non-vegetarian food since he respected his parents. Gandhi's parents were devout Vaishnavites and were Hindu belief system's followers which prescribed strict vegetarianism.

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In Gujarat, vegetarianism is popular due to the dominant Vaishnav Hindu culture. In the state's population, Hindus constitute 88.5 per cent and Jains are about oneper cent, and Muslims and Christians make up 10 per cent of the population.

(With inputs from agencies)