Veg Biryani to to be renamed as Veg Pulao: Haridwar priests launch campaign to maintain sanctity of the city

Seers associated with the Akhand Parshuram Akhada have launched a campaign in Haridwar, calling on food vendors and stall owners to stop using the term ‘Veg Biryani’ on signboards and menus and replace it with ‘Veg Pulao’, reports ANI.

The initiative is aimed at preserving the sanctity of the pilgrimage city, with Akhada members arguing that the word ‘Biryani’ is traditionally linked to non-vegetarian cuisine and should not be used in a city regarded as a major religious destination.

Seers visit food stalls across city

As part of the campaign, seers visited food stalls and carts in different parts of Haridwar and appealed to shopkeepers to modify the names displayed on their menus and banners.

Members of the Akhada said they had requested vendors to install ‘Veg Pulao’ signboards instead of ‘Veg Biryani’, maintaining that the change would not affect business operations while helping safeguard the religious sentiments of devotees and local residents.

“Haridwar is a holy city. We have urged the shopkeepers that a dish synonymous with meat-based preparations should not be sold under the name ‘Biryani’ here. We have asked them to sell it as ‘Veg Pulao’ instead,” an Akhada member said.

Akhada cites religious and cultural concerns

Bhagwatacharya Pandit Pawan Shastri said Haridwar is a globally recognised religious city with a deeply rooted Satvik culture. He stated that the term ‘Biryani’ is commonly associated with non-vegetarian food and does not align with the character of the pilgrimage destination.

He said the Akhada had requested traders to replace the term with ‘Veg Pulao’ on menus and signboards, adding that the proposed change would neither affect business nor hurt the sentiments of the Sanatani community. He also warned that the Akhada would organise protests if the term continued to be used.

Appeal for cooperation from vendors

Pandit Adhir Kaushik said the organisation had observed several stalls selling food under the name ‘Veg Biryani’ despite the city’s religious significance.

According to him, the Akhada believes the term is associated with meat-based dishes and is therefore unsuitable for a sacred pilgrimage site. He urged vendors to cooperate with the campaign and adopt the name ‘Veg Pulao’ to help maintain the spiritual atmosphere of the city and avoid future disputes.

Campaign to continue across Haridwar

Swami Kartikgiri Maharaj said the initiative was intended to uphold the traditions and religious identity of Haridwar.

He stated that Akhada members were visiting shops to raise awareness and expressed hope that both the administration and the public would support the effort.

The seers have said the campaign will continue across the city and reiterated that formal protests would be staged against any shopkeeper who continues using the term ‘Biryani’ on signboards or advertisements.

Vendors begin changing signboards

Following the appeal, several vendors have reportedly started replacing ‘Veg Biryani’ banners with ‘Veg Pulao’ labels.

Akhada representatives said the objective of the campaign is to preserve the spiritual and religious character of the pilgrimage city.