Cooking all non-vegetarian foods banned at eateries located on Meerut Kanwar Yatra route

To maintain the sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra and ensure peaceful conduct of the annual pilgrimage, the Meerut district administration has imposed a ban on cooking of all non-vegetarian foods, including eggs and fish at all eateries located along the yatra route.

Meerut District Magistrate Dr VK Singh confirmed the decision on July 11, stating, “Cooking of meat, fish and eggs has been banned in eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route. More than 10 teams of the Food Safety Department have been deployed for inspection.” The directive comes as part of extensive preparations for the holy month of Sawan, during which lakhs of Kanwariyas carry sacred water from the Ganga to offer at Shiva temples.

To ensure security and order, the police have divided the yatra route into 57 zones and 155 sectors. Over 8,000 police personnel, including 1,166 women officers, have been deployed, with additional surveillance measures such as drone monitoring and CCTV cameras also in place, PTI reported.

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The administration has finalised arrangements for ‘Jalabhishek’ ceremonies at key temples including Baba Augharhnath, Nageshwar Mahadev, and Mahabileshwarnath. According to Satish Singhal, president of the Augharhnath Temple Committee, more than two lakh devotees are expected to visit this year.

In support of the yatra, 838 camps have been established throughout the district, including 464 along highways, offering facilities such as free meals (bhandaras), drinking water, rest areas, and medical aid for the pilgrims.

Meerut Divisional Commissioner Dr Rishikesh Bhaskar Yashod instructed all food outlets on the route to clearly display rate lists, owner details, and valid food safety registration certificates. This measure aims to ensure transparency and hygiene during the pilgrimage.

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Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (ADG Zone) Bhanu Bhaskar has implemented a structured duty roster for police officers, modelled after the arrangements used during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. He issued a stern warning that any officers found making or sharing videos on social media while on duty will face strict departmental action.