The Maihar district administration in Madhya Pradesh has banned the sale and purchase of meat, fish and eggs within the limits of Maihar Nagar Palika during the Chaitra Navratri festival from March 30 to April 7.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department has declared Maihar as a religious city where lakhs of devotees come everyday to visit the Maa Sharda temple.
Maihar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vikas Kumar Singh issued the order under section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) which grants the power to issue immediate preventive orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger.
Those who violate the order will be punished under section 223 of the BNS, which deals with the disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant.
Situated on the top of the Trikut Hill, Maa Sharda Mandir is considered one of the Shakti Paathas. The temple is around 5 km away from Maihar railway station. Pilgrims climb 1,063 steps to reach the top of the hill.
Earlier, a BJP MLA from East Delhi had demanded the closure of meat shops in the national capital during the nine-day festival.
Ravi Kant, who represents Trilokpuri assembly constituency, had said the meat shopus should remain closed to maintain sanctity and ensure cleanliness across Delhi.
Much like Sharad Navratri, Chaitra Navratri also symbolises the triump of good over evil. Both these are nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga.
