Palitana: World’s first city where eating non-vegetarian food is illegal
Palitana: World’s first city where eating non-vegetarian food is illegal
July 13, 2024
Living a vegetarian and spiritual life is like cultivating a lush, vibrant garden within oneself. Each plant in the garden represents a virtue nurtured by the sun of mindfulness and the water of compassion. What if I say that there’s a city in India that has prohibited non-veg and eggs?
Well, such a city actually exists in Gujarat, it’s called Palitana. Palitana, located in Bhavnagar district in Gujarat is the holiest pilgrimage site for Jains.
It is renowned for its vegetarian status. Selling or consuming meat and eggs is illegal in Palitana, making it completely vegetarian. The ban on animal slaughter is believed to have started after a hunger strike in 2014 by a few Jain monks.
Jainism emphasizes on Ahimsa (non-violence) principle and reverence for all living beings. Therefore, vegetarianism is very vital in the religion, respectively. On the other hand, Palitana has over 900 temples, most notably the magnificent Adinath temple, accessible by climbing 3,950 steps. It is the pride of Jains.
Shedding light on the economic aspect of this concept, the city’s economy benefits from vegetarian restaurants and shops serving pilgrims and tourists.
There can be several debates and discussions around this especially, those who are meat eaters; however, considering the fact that this tradition of vegetarianism is solely associated with Palitana, there isn’t much of a scope for arguments
