The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has imposed a complete ban on animal slaughter and the sale of meat across the city on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in observance of Sadhu Vaswani Jayanti. All licensed and unlicensed slaughterhouses, meat shops, and chicken stalls under GBA jurisdiction will remain shut for the day, with strict enforcement promised by local police and civic officials.
The order, issued on November 24 and posted on X by the GBA, states, “On 25-11-2025, on the occasion of Sadhu Vaswani Jayanti, animal slaughter in slaughterhouses and the sale of meat in meat shops across the Greater Bengaluru area have been completely prohibited.”
November 25 is recognized globally as International Meatless Day in honor of Sadhu T.L. Vaswani (1879–1966), the revered spiritual leader, educationist, and lifelong advocate of vegetarianism and non-violence. Born in Hyderabad, Sindh, Sadhu Vaswani founded the Mira Movement in Education and Animal Rights and established several schools and animal hospitals. After Partition, he relocated to Pune, where the Sadhu Vaswani Mission continues his legacy of compassion and reverence for all life.
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Bengaluru has observed this meat ban annually for over two decades, making it one of the few Indian cities to officially mark Sadhu Vaswani Jayanti alongside national figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha. Similar one-day bans are enforced in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra, where the mission has a strong presence.
While the closure affects thousands of non-vegetarian outlets and hotels (many of which will serve only vegetarian menus), the civic measure has broad acceptance among residents as a gesture of respect for the spiritual leader’s teachings on ahimsa. Police have been directed to ensure compliance, with violators facing action under the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act and municipal bylaws.
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