The Madhya Pradesh government’s ban on booze in religious sites came into effect on Tuesday. Now, along with a full stop on consumption, devotees who offer prayer at Kal Bhairav will also not be able to buy liquor in Ujjain. All the shops- including the two near Bhairav temple- were shut down on Tuesday.
There are no restrictions on devotees offering liquor in the Kal Bhairav temple, just that they will not be able to buy it from area around the temple. According to the regulations, devotees will be able to buy liquor from the shops outside the Ujjain Municipal limits and offer it to the deity.
“All points of sales and licensed bars are closed within Ujjain municipal corporation limits," the Times of India reported, quoting Excise Commissioner Abhijeet Agrawal. When asked if one can carry liquor in the prescribed quantity through the areas where sale is now banned, he said: "All remaining rules and regulations of the excise department are still in place,” the report added.
The report, quoting officials, further added that the devotees will be able to carry upto four bottles of legally puchased liquor to temple without any document. However, number of bottles above four will require documents. On the other hand, the temple has been allowed to keep a two-day stock for daily pooja offerings.
"Ahead of the ban, the temple committee informed the administration and maintained this stock. It will be used for offerings to the deity immediately after the temple opens in the morning, before and after morning and evening aartis, and at the time of closing the temple at night," the report cited, Priest of Kal Bhairav Temple Omprakash Chaturvedi.
The shops selling liquor near the temple were asked to submit affidavits declaring that they will not sell alcohol.
In the run-up to the ban, the administration held several rounds of meetings with shopkeepers. Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma said all authorized sellers and dhabas were told to cease sales from Tuesday. "All shopkeepers have been clearly informed that they must not engage in any form of illegal alcohol sales, and activities related to alcohol sales will be closely monitored. Strict action will be taken against any violations," Sharma said, adding regular inspections will continue.
The MP government banned the sale of liquor at 19 religious sites this January, including Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Maihar, Orchha, Nalkheda, and Datia. The prohibition came into effect with the start of the new fiscal year.
Excise and police teams conducted searches at suspected outlets in Ujjain. All 17 shops and 11 bars within Ujjain municipal limits, plus two liquor counters in the Kal Bhairav Temple complex, have been shut, said assistant excise commissioner Vikramdeep Singh Sangar. Three teams are conducting searches every four hours, including the temple area, the report added, citing Sangar.