After the local administration in Ayodhya imposed a complete ban on the sale and online delivery of non-vegetarian food within a 15-kilometre radius of the Ram Temple, a renewed debate has emerged in Odisha over calls to make Puri a meat- and liquor-free holy city.
Saints, servitors of the Srimandir in Puri, and scholars have intensified their demand, urging the state government to take firm measures to preserve the sanctity and dignity of Lord Jagannath Dham—one of Hinduism’s four sacred Dhams. Devotees argue that if such restrictions are enforceable in Ayodhya, there is no justification for allowing the open sale of non-vegetarian food in Puri.
The debate recalls a promise made by the Law Minister on June 8 last year, to make the stretch of Bada Danda from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple free of non-vegetarian food and to declare a two-kilometre radius around the temple liquor-free. However, the lack of visible action has led to widespread resentment, with many questioning the status of the commitment.
Today, rows of fast-food stalls selling chicken and mutton line both sides of Bada Danda, extending close to the Gundicha Temple. Non-vegetarian trade also thrives in nearby areas such as Mochi Sahi, College Road, Red Cross Road, and Masani Chandi Chhak, especially on Wednesdays and Sundays. Even the sea beach road reportedly hosts such vendors, undermining the spiritual atmosphere of the city.
Senior servitors and mahants have expressed concern that pilgrims visiting Puri with deep religious sentiments are disturbed by the smell and open sale of non-vegetarian food. Many visitors from other sacred sites like Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Dwarka, and Tirupati reportedly express shock at Puri’s situation.
"At least the areas around the temple, the seaside, and the holy ponds should be immediately free from non-vegetarian food," said senior servitor Ganesh Mahasuara.
"Puri is the centre of all spiritual places. Meat, fish, and other non-vegetarian foods are openly sold on Bada Danda. We request that such practices be completely stopped in this holy city," added Nebala Das mutt mahant Ramacharan Das Maharaj.
For over two decades, the demand for a non-vegetarian-free Puri has persisted. Since 1999, 32 organisations under the Odisha Yuva Chetana Parishad have actively campaigned for this cause. With the comparison to Ayodhya reigniting public sentiment, pressure on the state government to act decisively is mounting.
Meanwhile, the Executive Officer of the Puri Municipality, Abhimanyu Behera, stated that the administration will enforce restrictions once a clear and strict directive is issued by the government.
"Non-vegetarian food is sold on Bada Danda. The administration will take firm action once a government directive is received," he said.
рмнрм╛рм░рмдрнАрнЯ рм╕рмЩрнНрмЧрнАрмд рмЬрмЧрмдрм░ рмжрм┐рмЧрмЧрмЬ Asha BhosleрмЩрнНрмХ рморнГрмдрнНрнЯрнБ рм╕рм╣рм┐...
рмЖрмЬрм┐рмХрм╛рм▓рм┐ ‘Work From Anywhere’ рмзрм╛рм░рмгрм╛рмЯрм┐ рмм...
рмЖрм╕рмирнНрмдрм╛ рммрмбрм╝ рммрмЬрнЗрмЯрнН рмлрм┐рм▓рнНрмо ‘рм░рм╛рморм╛рнЯрмг’рм░ рмЯрм┐рмЬрм░рнН...
рмнрмжрнНрм░рмХ рмЬрм┐рм▓рнНрм▓рм╛рм░ рмирм│рмЩрнНрмЧрм╛ рмЕрмЮрнНрмЪрм│ рмирм┐рмХрмЯрм░рнЗ рм╢рнБрмХрнНрм░рммрм╛рм░ рм╕рмХрм╛рм│рнЗ рмП...
рммрм▓рм┐рмЙрмбрнН рм░рнЗ рмдрм┐рмирм┐ рмкрм┐рмврм╝рнА рмзрм░рм┐ рмЪрм│рм┐рмерм┐рммрм╛ рмЕрмнрм┐рмирнЗрмдрм╛рмЕрморм┐рмдрм╛рмн рммрмЪрнН...
рмЖрмЬрм┐рмХрм╛рм▓рм┐ рмЕрмирнЗрмХрнЗ рм╕рнБрмЧрм░рнН рмХрморм╛рмЗрммрм╛ рмХрм┐рморнНрммрм╛ рмкрнВрм░рм╛рмкрнБрм░рм┐ рммрмирнНрмж рмХрм░...
рмЖрмЬрм┐рм░ рм╢рммрнНрмж рм╣рнЗрмЙрмЫрм┐‘Alacrity’, рмпрм╛рм╣рм╛ рмЗрмВрм░рм╛...
рмПрмХ рмЖрмХрм░рнНрм╖рмгрнАрнЯ рмШрмЯрмгрм╛рм░рнЗ, рмЬрмгрнЗ рмХрм░рнНрмормЪрм╛рм░рнА рмдрм╛рмЩрнНрмХ рмжрнИрмирм┐рмХ рмХрм╛рморм░...
рморнБрморнНрммрм╛рмЗ:рмУрмбрм╝рм┐рмЖ рм╕рм┐рмирнЗрморм╛ рмкрм╛рмЗрмБ рмПрмХ рмРрмдрм┐рм╣рм╛рм╕рм┐рмХ рморнБрм╣рнВрм░рнНрмдрнНрмд рм╕рнГ...
рммрм▓рм┐рмЙрмбрм░ рм▓рнЛрмХрмкрнНрм░рм┐рнЯ рмкрнНрм▓рнЗрммрнНрнЯрм╛рмХрнН рмЧрм╛рнЯрмХ рмЬрнБрммрм┐рми рмирнМрмЯрм┐рнЯрм╛рм▓ рмирм┐рмЬ...
рммрм┐рм╢рнНрн▒рм░рнЗ Fatty Liver Disease рмжрнНрм░рнБрмд рмЧрмдрм┐рм░рнЗ рммрмврм╝рнБрмЫрм┐ рмУ рмП...
рмнрм╛рм░рмдрм░ рмХрнЗрмирнНрмжрнНрм░рнАрнЯ рммрм┐рмжрнНрнЯрм╛рм│рнЯ (KV) рм╕рнНрмХрнБрм▓рнНрморм╛рмирнЗ рм╕рморнНрмкрнНрм░рмдрм┐...
