The Crossbill News Desk
A fresh controversy has emerged in Maharashtra after the state government imposed a temporary ban on meat sales during the Pandharpur Wari, a centuries-old pilgrimage rooted in the Bhakti movement.
The decision, announced by BJP leader and Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, directs the Solapur district administration to prohibit meat sales for a period of 10 days — from seven days before Ashadi Ekadashi to three days after the conclusion of the Wari pilgrimage to the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur.
Gore justified the move, citing requests from pilgrims who reportedly urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure a meat-free environment during the festival.
“Several warkaris (pilgrims) have expressed their wish to the chief minister to have a ban on meat sales during this period. So, the collector was finally directed to take the decision,” he told the media.
In addition to the meat ban, the state has also ordered a halt on liquor sales across the district for the duration of the festival. Similar restrictions have been rolled out in regions that fall along the pilgrimage route.
The Pandharpur Wari, a spiritual foot journey dating back over 700 years, was pioneered by saint-poets like Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram. The tradition is deeply associated with Maharashtra’s anti-caste Bhakti movement and has long drawn participation from the Bahujan community, many of whom are from meat-eating backgrounds.
While Warkaris themselves traditionally abstain from meat during the pilgrimage, the dietary practices of non-participants in the surrounding areas have historically not faced restrictions.
However, in recent years, right-wing groups and BJP leaders have increasingly intervened in the cultural aspects of the Wari, raising concerns among critics about an ongoing attempt to impose a singular religious and dietary narrative.
The imposition of meat bans around Hindu festivals like Navaratri and Ram Navami has already drawn criticism in the past for marginalising diverse food cultures and communities.
This year’s directive also comes close on the heels of another controversial move by the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog. The commission had earlier ordered a suspension of livestock markets across all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) from June 3 to June 8, citing the upcoming Eid al-Adha festival. Following public backlash, that decision was later withdrawn.
Observers say the government’s latest directives reflect a broader pattern of institutionalising vegetarianism around Hindu festivals, often at the expense of religious and cultural plurality.
Critics argue that such bans, particularly during events like the Wari that have strong anti-caste legacies, are part of an ongoing effort to align historically inclusive traditions with a more homogenised Hindutva ideology.
The decision, announced by BJP leader and Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, directs the Solapur district administration to prohibit meat sales for a period of 10 days — from seven days before Ashadi Ekadashi to three days after the conclusion of the Wari pilgrimage to the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur.
Gore justified the move, citing requests from pilgrims who reportedly urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure a meat-free environment during the festival.
“Several warkaris (pilgrims) have expressed their wish to the chief minister to have a ban on meat sales during this period. So, the collector was finally directed to take the decision,” he told the media.
In addition to the meat ban, the state has also ordered a halt on liquor sales across the district for the duration of the festival. Similar restrictions have been rolled out in regions that fall along the pilgrimage route.
The Pandharpur Wari, a spiritual foot journey dating back over 700 years, was pioneered by saint-poets like Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram. The tradition is deeply associated with Maharashtra’s anti-caste Bhakti movement and has long drawn participation from the Bahujan community, many of whom are from meat-eating backgrounds.
While Warkaris themselves traditionally abstain from meat during the pilgrimage, the dietary practices of non-participants in the surrounding areas have historically not faced restrictions.
However, in recent years, right-wing groups and BJP leaders have increasingly intervened in the cultural aspects of the Wari, raising concerns among critics about an ongoing attempt to impose a singular religious and dietary narrative.
The imposition of meat bans around Hindu festivals like Navaratri and Ram Navami has already drawn criticism in the past for marginalising diverse food cultures and communities.
This year’s directive also comes close on the heels of another controversial move by the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog. The commission had earlier ordered a suspension of livestock markets across all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) from June 3 to June 8, citing the upcoming Eid al-Adha festival. Following public backlash, that decision was later withdrawn.
Observers say the government’s latest directives reflect a broader pattern of institutionalising vegetarianism around Hindu festivals, often at the expense of religious and cultural plurality.
Critics argue that such bans, particularly during events like the Wari that have strong anti-caste legacies, are part of an ongoing effort to align historically inclusive traditions with a more homogenised Hindutva ideology.
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