A viral social media video shows members of the right-wing group ‘Hindu Raksha Dal’ protesting outside a KFC outlet in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh last Thursday. The group protested against selling of non-vegetarian food during the Hindu holy month of Sawan.

The protest didn’t stop there. The group targeted a local outlet named Nazir and caused a similar uproar there as well. As a result of the protests, both food outlets temporarily closed.

In the various video clips that circulated on social media, the protesting group carried saffron flags and chanted slogans, including “Jai Shri Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev”. In one video, the protestors could be seen pulling on the shutter of the KFC outlet, before standing in front and chanting more religious slogans after they closed the outlet.

In another video, the group entered the KFC outlet and had a disagreement with the frontline workers and there while demanding non-vegetarian food at the KFC outlet stop being served. One protestor could be heard shouting, “All of these items should be banned in the month of Sawan.”

While the demonstration did not escalate into violence, it obviously inhibited normal operations and added strain on the staff. The demonstrators adamantly demanded that only vegetarian foods would be permitted during Sawan, which is very important religiously to Hindus, especially for devotees of Lord Shiva.

Why Is Sawan Unique?
Sawan, or Shravan, is a holy month in the Hindu calendar. Many Hindus follow religious restrictions during this month. For example, some Hindus fast during this time, but also may eliminate meat, and even onions or garlic.

One of the largest religious events during Sawan is the Kanwar Yatra, which involves thousands of devotees (kanwariya) collecting water from the river Ganga and offering it to Lord Shiva. During this time, many towns enact partial bans on meat sales in deference to the religious feelings of Hindus, but there was no law enforcing a state-wide ban on non-veg items.

Social Media Mixed Reactions
The incident generated conversation on social media. Some were supporting the protest saying it was just showing respect for religious traditions. Others were arguing it was not fair to force restaurants to close as a way of professing beliefs, and this was especially true given that India is a secular nation where people have the freedom to pursue different food choices.

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No injuries or arrests were reported while writing this, but certainly, the videos and action of the Hindu Raksha Dal raised questions regarding freedom, religion, and food in public places.

#Ghaziabad :

सावन में मांसाहार नहीं!

वसुंधरा में हिंदू रक्षा दल का प्रदर्शन

KFC और नज़ीर जैसे रेस्टोरेंट के बाहर किया विरोध

कांवड़ मार्ग के पास मांसाहारी दुकानों को बंद करने की मांग@ghaziabadpolice @Uppolice #Sawan2025 #KavadYatra #HinduRashtra #GhaziabadNews pic.twitter.com/yczYH5IAIg

— News1India (@News1IndiaTweet) July 17, 2025

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