Bengaluru civic body halts meat sales for Maha Shivratri. Check regulations here

In observance of Mahashivratri, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has ordered a one-day ban on animal slaughter and meat sales across the city.

Published on: Feb 13, 2026, 11:40:07 IST

Written by Yamini C S

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The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has ordered a temporary halt on animal slaughter and the sale of meat in slaughterhouses under its jurisdiction to mark the observance of Mahashivratri. The directive, issued on Thursday, specified that the restriction will be enforced for a single day on February 15 across Bengaluru.

To observe Mahashivratri, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has banned animal slaughter and meat sales on February 15. (Unsplash)

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Significance of Mahashivratri

Mahashivratri, one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is widely regarded as a night of deep spiritual importance. The occasion symbolises the conquest of darkness and ignorance and is believed to be especially auspicious for meditation and inner transformation.

The festival also commemorates the divine marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati, representing the union of consciousness and energy. Devotees across India observe the day through fasting, prayers, temple visits and night-long vigils, marking it with devotion and religious fervour.

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Restrictions on the sale of non-vegetarian food during religious and national occasions have been imposed by civic bodies and local administrations in several parts of the country in recent times.

In Ayodhya, authorities announced a comprehensive ban on non-vegetarian food in hotels and restaurants within Ayodhya Dham. The prohibition was extended to online food delivery services, with officials warning that strict action would be taken against platforms and establishments found violating the order, ANI reported.

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Similar measures have been enforced elsewhere as well. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had earlier directed the closure of all meat shops during festivals such as Dussehra and on Gandhi Jayanti. In eastern India, the administration of Koraput District imposed a one-day ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food during the 77th Republic Day celebrations.

Officials said such restrictions are typically implemented to maintain religious sentiments and public order during major observances.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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