Karnataka’s capital residents will be observing a “no-meat day” this Sunday. On February 15, 2026, a city-wide ban on slaughter and sales of meat will also be implemented in the GBA, following Maha Shivaratri. The GBA would not allow slaughterhouses and retail meat shops to open the full 24 hrs on the day, the act was given by the Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department of the GBA.
A Respect for Religious feelings
Maha Shivaratri commemorates the birthday of Lord Shiva and is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. The GBA emphasized that the choice was made to respect the religious beliefs and practices of the millions of Indians who fast on this day and perform festivals such as pujas. An official spokesman for the GBA said:
"I. To preserve the festival's religious integrity and in line with the basic civic laws about key religious occasions, there will be a blanket ban on animal slaughter and meat trading throughout the city on Sunday."
Slaughter and sale of animals are banned on 15.02.2026 on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, in Bengaluru (Karnataka). pic.twitter.com/tlc3ClfzZm
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026
What is Covered Under the Ban?
This constraint is broad and covers:
- Government and private slaughterhouses will shut down.
- Reaches Out To: Local butcher shops, fish markets and poultry vendors
- Supermarkets: Sections of larger retail chains' meat stores must stay closed or hidden.
- Online Deliveries: Big meat delivery platforms will also disable orders from the city limits for the day.
Restaurants are allowed to do so in conjunction with existing stock of non-vegetarian food but fresh procurement and public slaughter are strictly banned. Civic officials have cautioned that squads will patrol many zones to enforce compliance, and violators could face fines or loss of their trade licenses.
A Pattern of Observance
Bengaluru has decades of practice in implementing meat bans on some national and religious days. The same types of restrictions are usually observed on:
- Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (October 2)
- Sarvodaya Day (January 30)
- Mahavir Jayanti
- Ambedkar Jayanti
- Buddha Purnima
For many Bengaluru residents, especially those who practice “Sunday meat” customs, the weekend ban has encouraged many to push the purchase to Saturday, or change to vegetarian menus during the holiday.
