No ban on meat, egg sale in Bhopal during Navratri, officials deny news reports

No prohibition on the sale of meat, fish or eggs has been imposed in Madhya Pradesh’s capital of Bhopal during the nine-day Navratri festival or on Dasara, officials clarified on Tuesday (September 23, 2025), dismissing media reports about a purported ban on these products from September 22 to October 2.

Speaking to The Hindu, Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh said, “No such order has been issued by the district administration placing a blanket ban like this.”

On Monday (September 22), several media outlets had reported on the “prohibition”, citing a report by a news agency, which quoted a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

However, the news agency, which had shared a purported video statement by the SDM on X regarding the ban, deleted the post on Tuesday. The post drew widespread criticism from social media users and Opposition party leaders. Many slammed the move and termed it “majoritarian and divisive”.

In a post on X, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra remarked: “How can the entire multi-faith city of Bhopal be forced to give up fish, meat and eggs simply because some people decide to turn vegetarian for a finite period of time to balance out their sins for the remainder of the year? Madhya Pradesh – this is the lunacy you get when you vote BJP.”

In a fresh post on Tuesday, the news agency issued a correction, highlighting that the official quoted is the SDM from Maihar district in north M.P.

“A Navratri mela (fair) is starting from September 22 in the holy town of Maa Sharda. In view of this, the sale of meat, fish, and eggs has been banned in the city from September 22 to October 2,” Divya Patel, SDM, Maihar, is quoted as saying.

Maihar Collector Rani Batad told The Hindu that the ban is imposed during both Navratris every year in parts of the town near the famous Sharda Mata temple. 

“Such orders are issued each year during the Navratri mela at the temple. It’s a complete ban on the sale of raw meat as well as at eateries,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Prem Shankar Shukla, the public relations officer (PRO) of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, also said that no such long-period restrictions have been imposed by the civic body in the city.

“Each year a calendar is issued, after consultation with various departments and the BMC Commissioner, with certain days and festivals when specific instructions are issued but we have never had any 8-9 day period in our calendar,” said Mr. Shukla said.