Ayodhya Food Commissioner Manik Chandra Singh on Saturday announced a strict ban on non-vegetarian food in hotels and restaurants located within Ayodhya Dham. The ban also includes online delivery, and authorities will penalize platforms that violate the rule.
Speaking to ANI, Ayodhya Food Commissioner Manik Chandra Singh said, “Serving non-vegetarian food has been banned in hotels and restaurants in Ayodhya Dham.”
Singh also announced action against hotels and delivery platforms violating the rules.
Singh further said, “However, online delivery was still taking place through various platforms. We are ensuring that meat will neither be served nor delivered through online platforms in these areas. We will also ensure that the delivery platforms associated with hotels strictly follow the rules, otherwise strict action will be taken against them.”
Speaking on the ban, hotel general manager Shubham Srivastava welcomed it as a measure to maintain the sanctity of Ayodhya Dham.
“Non-vegetarian food is prohibited in our holy scriptures; it is considered a sin in our religion. Therefore, we appreciate this ban and aim to protect and preserve the sacred spirit of Ayodhya Dham by not serving non-vegetarian food in our hotel,” he told ANI.
The decision is aimed at being in line with the cultural and religious importance of Ayodhya, respecting local sentiments and keeping in mind the preferences of pilgrims.
Earlier on Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta flagged off a group of Ram devotees for Ayodhya Dham and described the pilgrimage as a powerful message of eternal faith, cultural unity and spiritual consciousness.
The Chief Minister bid farewell to a group of about 35-40 devotees from Mukhyamantri Janseva Sadan located on Raj Niwas Marg. This journey from Delhi to Ayodhya has been organized by Valmiki Choudhary Sarpanch Committee, which will give the devotees an opportunity to see Lord Ram in the newly constructed grand temple.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Gupta said that this pilgrimage is imbued with devotion, faith and eternal values and further empowers the rich cultural consciousness and spiritual traditions of India. He said that it is a matter of good fortune for the devotees to get the opportunity to see Lord Ram in the first month of the New Year.
The Chief Minister said that visiting the grand Ram temple, praying at the feet of Lord Ram and roaming in the streets, lanes and temples of the holy city of Ayodhya is a divine and supernatural experience in itself. He said that such trips help in deepening spiritual bonds and strengthening cultural roots.
Referring to the construction of Ram temple, Gupta said that this grand temple built in Ayodhya under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a historical achievement. He described it as more than just a religious structure and described it as a symbol of the renaissance of India’s national consciousness based on the dignity of faith, respect for tradition and eternal values.