The seasonal market for goats, which has been operating in the city of Varanasi for decades, has been closed over Bakrid amid protests by those involved in the trade. The municipal corporation stated that it had taken the action after complaints were received about the site’s overcrowding, sanitation, and hygiene issues.
The Benia Bagh livestock market is also popularly called the “Bakra Market” and is considered to be one of the largest goat markets in eastern Uttar Pradesh, with trading dates extending almost forty years. The market gets up and running about one kilometre away from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and typically experiences a surge in activity a week before Bakrid, or Eid al-Adha, when thousands of traders race to the market to sell and purchase goods.
Muslims around the world celebrate it as the spirit of sacrifice, and it is generally observed by sacrificing goats and other animals.
The market was earlier allowed by the authorities, but later withdrawn due to complaints about hygiene, waste accumulation, and crowd control, said Himanshu Nagpal, who was serving as the municipal commissioner. The market area reportedly was inspected before it was sealed four days after trade was started, and the area is about 6,000 square feet.
This abrupt cancellation caused a furor within the trade as well as livestock sales communities, as lots of people stated that they had not received sufficient notification before the cancellation. The protesters said the market is one of the main sources of income for hundreds of families during the festive season and claimed the decision of the administration would have a major effect on their livelihoods.
There were several traders who asked the authorities to either reopen the market or give them other places to transact business in advance of the festival.