DEHRADUN, June 7 : A section of religious leaders in Haridwar have launched a campaign against Biryani asking roadside eateries and restaurants to replace the word with “Vegetable Pulao” in their menu cards.
Religious leaders objecting to Biryani have said that it originated from Hyderabad and is not in compliance with the sanctity of the holy city.
Religious leaders in Haridwar have launched the movement to protest against the use of the word ‘Biryani, asking roadside vendors and restaurants to name food items in their manus in accordance with the sanctity of the town and municipal regulations.
Followers of the, All India Akhara Council, Shri Akhand Parshuram Akhada (SAPA) and other sects engaged in campaign against use of “Biryani” tried to influence the hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries vendors asking them put up the menu reading “Veg Pulao” over their shops and carts.
Claiming it to be first stage of their anti Biryani campaign at select locations of the town, they informed the shopkeepers and vendors meaning of the word “Biryani” to the shopkeepers. SAPA head Adhir Kaushik stated that they have begun the drive against name Biryani after receiving several complaints from public.
Adhir Kaushik said, “Biryani is a word originated from Hyderabad. It’s traditionally associated with non-vegetarian food items. At majority of the eateries and restaurants, Vegetable Pulao is being sold in the name of Vegetable Biryani, which is wrong. Haridwar is a renowned global pilgrimage site. It’s everyone’s responsibility to maintain religious and cultural identity of the holy town with all its dignity.”
Kaushik and other spiritual leaders including Juna Akhada’s Swami Kartik Giri and religious narrator Pandit Pawan Krishna Shastri appealed the vendors, motel and restaurant owners in Haridwar to change the names on their signboards and menus that gels with the religiosity of the town and its municipal rules.
Shastri clarified that the seers’ community and Sanatan follower are not against anyone earning their livelihood or business but the objection was being raised over wrong nomenclature of the food item. Shopkeepers must write “Veg Pulao” instead of “Veg Biryani” in their menu list.
An awareness campaign regarding this was going on for sometime but it failed to get the desired result. Hence, it was decided to take to the streets after getting plethora of complaints from the public to the spiritual leaders and gurus in order to communicate the message directly.”
Juna Akhada seer Kartik Giri said, “Although people have all the rights to do business, It’s essential to exercise their sense of responsibility and sensitivity in naming food items in the religious city like Haridwar. Compliance with municipal norms was also also necessary.”
The anti-Biryani campaign was launched in Haridwar on Saturday after office-bearers of SAPA called upon the Niranjani Akhada seer and president All India Akhara Council Mahant Ravindrapuri to discuss the matter and seek latter’s guidance for the proposed campaign. During the meeting, they demanded a complete ban on the online delivery of intoxicants and non-vegetarian food in Haridwar.
(UNI )
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