AYODHYA: Slaughtering of animals for meat is banned in Ayodhya, one of the most famous Hindu religious towns. Meat -- of any kind, cooked or raw -- is neither sold here nor served even in weddings and parties. However, once a year the local civic body lifts the ban for Muslims' festival Bakrid. This year too, the ban has been lifted, though there is no official order.
"Everything happens with a great understanding between the two communities," says a civic official. "Amid all the controversies over meat and beef, the temple town presents the best example of religious tolerance and respect to religious sentiments of the other community," he adds.
"In fact, this system was so spontaneous that nobody had even noticed it earlier. But, now in the era of religious intolerance when people are being attacked and killed over food habit, Ayodhya leads by example. No Hindu religious leader or any mahant have ever objected to the 'qurbani' ritual being carried out by hundreds of Muslims in Ayodhya," says Jamal Akhtar, a local resident.
Talking to TOI, Haji Asad Ahmad, a corporator of Ayodhya Municipal Board, says, "We have been observing 'qurbani' in Ayodhya always. Although animal slaughter is banned here, Muslim families offer qurbani on Bakrid without any fear."
"Everything happens with a great understanding between the two communities," says a civic official. "Amid all the controversies over meat and beef, the temple town presents the best example of religious tolerance and respect to religious sentiments of the other community," he adds.
"In fact, this system was so spontaneous that nobody had even noticed it earlier. But, now in the era of religious intolerance when people are being attacked and killed over food habit, Ayodhya leads by example. No Hindu religious leader or any mahant have ever objected to the 'qurbani' ritual being carried out by hundreds of Muslims in Ayodhya," says Jamal Akhtar, a local resident.
Talking to TOI, Haji Asad Ahmad, a corporator of Ayodhya Municipal Board, says, "We have been observing 'qurbani' in Ayodhya always. Although animal slaughter is banned here, Muslim families offer qurbani on Bakrid without any fear."
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