Vrindavan, Barsana declared as Sacred Sites, no meat and liquor shops allowed

The Uttar Pradesh government on 27 October 2017 issued an order notifying Vrindavan and Barsana towns in Mathura district as 'sacred pilgrimage sites' ('pavitra teerth sthals').

With this, Vrindavan and Barsana became the first two places to be notified as teerth sthal in government records. No meat and liquor shops will be allowed in these towns anymore.

As per the state government, the main objective behind declaring Vrindavan and Barsana as pilgrimage sites is to honour the sentiments of devotees, who are hurt by the operations of liquor and meat shops. The move will help in restoring the age-old traditions of these places.

The government also directed the various state departments including departments of Urban Development, Excise, Food and Drug Administration, General Administration and Home to take necessary steps in this regard within three months.

Background
The Uttar Pradesh government recently merged Vrindavan, a former nagar palika parishad, with the Mathura municipal board to create Mathura Nagar Nigam. While, Barsana is a Nagar Panchayat.

Both Mathura Nagar Nigam and Barsana Nagar Panchayat will go to polls in November 2017.