VHP begins 'Sanatani Certificate' drive for shops along Delhi’s Kanwar Yatra routes

In view of the annual Kanwar Yatra, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has launched a campaign across Delhi to issue 'Sanatani Certificates' to shops, mainly those located along the routes used by Shiva devotees. The drive comes amid confusion over whether meat shops on these routes will remain closed during the pilgrimage.

The VHP initiative aims to certify shops selling vegetarian food items as being in line with what it terms 'Sanatan Hindu culture'. According to a report by Jagran, stickers are being handed out to establishments such as restaurants, grocery stores and hotels after teams inspect the products being sold and items stored in their kitchens. The sticker states that the business is a Sanatan Hindu establishment and operates in accordance with traditional values.

To carry out the drive, the VHP has formed 150 teams covering 173 blocks in Delhi. These teams are conducting door-to-door surveys, with support from local religious institutions and organisations. The campaign will reportedly continue for the entire month of July and aim to inspect approxmitely 5,000 shops, VHP state minister Surendra Gupta told Jagran, adding that the initiative is focused on preserving purity for devotees carrying holy Ganga water through Delhi en route to Haryana and Rajasthan.

The campaign is unfolding even as conflicting messages emerge from civic authorities and government representatives. Earlier this week, Delhi’s Culture and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra had claimed that meat shops would be shut along the Kanwar Yatra routes as a joint decision by the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

However, the MCD clarified on Thursday that there is no legal provision under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, to enforce the closure of meat shops during the pilgrimage. In a written reply during the MCD House proceedings, the civic body said: “There is no provision to shut meat shops on the routes of the Kanwar Yatra,” as quoted by PTI.

The MCD did note that many shop owners have in the past voluntarily closed their outlets during the pilgrimage period out of respect for religious sentiments. It added that regional offices have been asked to run a special campaign against illegal animal slaughter and the open sale of meat, and have directed that meat shops along the yatra route remain “covered”.

As part of its arrangements for the yatra, MCD said 25 Kanwar camps have been set up across Delhi, where 22 doctors will be on regular duty, supported by 10 on-call medical professionals. Additionally, 62 support staff and 12 mobile dental vans have been deployed to provide round-the-clock healthcare services, as per a PTI report.

The civic body has also stepped up sanitation measures along the pilgrimage routes. Special teams and equipment, including water tankers and suction machines, have been stationed at key points. Sanitation and engineering officers have been instructed to ensure roads remain clean and free of waterlogging throughout the yatra period.

This year’s Kanwar Yatra, which takes place during the month of Shravan, begins July 11 and will continue till July 25.