Why has Bengaluru banned meat sales and animal slaughter for November 25?

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The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has declared a comprehensive ban on the slaughter of animals and the sale of all meat for the entirety of Tuesday, November 25.

The directive, issued on Sunday, mandates the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops within the city's limits to mark the birth anniversary of the spiritual leader Sadhu Vaswani.

The order from the GBA, as confirmed by the Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, will see a temporary halt to all related commercial activities. This enforcement across Greater Bengaluru is in observance of Sadhu Vaswani Jayanti, a day that also coincides with global observances known as International Meatless Day and International Vegetarian Day.

Sadhu TL Vaswani, born on November, 25, 1879, was an Indian educationist and spiritual figure renowned for his staunch advocacy of vegetarianism. He founded the Mira Movement and was instrumental in establishing St. Mira’s School. His legacy is perpetuated by the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, which promotes a philosophy of compassion and meat-free living.

This practice of designating meat-free days on significant occasions is not unprecedented in India, a nation with diverse traditions. Similar prohibitions often coincide with the birth anniversaries of other revered figures, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Mahatma Buddha, as a gesture of respect.