Palitana: first city in world to declare non-vegetarianism illegal

The Palitana city of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat is named as the world's first city to outlaw non-vegetarian food. This landmark decision makes it unlawful and criminal to kill animals as well as to sell or consume meat in Palitana, a well-known Jains' pilgrimage place.

The move came after about 200 Jain monks protested and demanded the closure of the city's roughly 250 butcher shops. In Rajkot, a set of rules governing the sale of non-vegetarian food were first issued.

The preparation and display of non-vegetarian food in public areas were prohibited by these rules. Soon after, Junagadh and Ahmedabad implemented the same law, followed by Vadodara.

People opposing the non-vegetarian food argued that the display of meat offended people's sensitivities and had a bad effect on people in general, especially children.

Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, also connected these rules to reduce congestion.

But neither in Gujarat nor around the world is the movement against non-vegetarian food new. Mahatma Gandhi embodied vegetarianism in Gujarat, and millions of people view it as their religious obligation to follow his lead.

Mahatma Gandhi experimented with meat during his school days, but he was a lifelong vegetarian.

His older brother's friend persuaded him to try mutton. Gandhiji, however, stayed mostly away from non-vegetarian food out of respect for his parents, who were devoted Vaishnavites, adherents of a Hindu religion that prescribes strict vegetarianism.

Gandhiji claimed in his autobiography to have enjoyed "meat fests" over a year, but this put him in a position where he had to tell his parents lies. He made a lifelong pledge to himself that he would never consume meat.

His mother took a commitment from him to remain a vegetarian when he left for England in 1888 to pursue his legal studies; Gandhiji kept this promise all of his life. Gandhi later tried going vegan, giving up cow's milk and other dairy products but substituting goat's milk for cow's.

In Gujarat, vegetarianism is mostly influenced by the Vaishnav Hindu culture that is predominant there. The majority population is Hindu (88.5%), followed by Jains (about 1%), Muslims (about 10%), and Christians (about 10%) in Gujarat. The major religious culture of the state is Vaishnavism.

Deeply ingrained cultural and religious roots are reflected in Gujarat's shift towards vegetarianism, which is demonstrated by cities like Palitana and laws in Ahmedabad. However, the state's changing dynamics demonstrate a complex link between dietary customs and shifting consumption patterns.

Gujarat is navigating this terrain with the help of modern laws and historical personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, who continue to affect the state's culinary culture and make Palitana the first city to ban non-vegetarian food.