The famous Beniyabagh goat market in Varanasi has failed to open even as the festival of Bakrid 2026 approaches, leading to widespread resentment among traders and those involved in the livestock business. The market, which was locked by the Municipal Corporation last Monday, remains closed, leaving businessmen who traveled from distant districts in a state of deep financial crisis. Many traders have expressed that the closure of the market right before the festival has completely paralyzed their business operations, resulting in losses worth lakhs of rupees.
Police Action and Market Evacuation
The Beniyabagh goat market was evacuated on Monday by a team from the Municipal Corporation in the presence of ACP Dashashwamedh and a heavy police force. The traders present at the site were given only about 1 hour to vacate the premises before the gates were locked. Reports indicate that a 10 days tender had been issued by the Smart City administration for the operation of the market, but the Municipal Corporation later cancelled it and ordered the closure. This sudden move has directly impacted approximately 250 traders who had arrived in Varanasi with their livestock from various parts of Purvanchal and other districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Traders from Multiple Districts Affected
Beniyabagh is considered one of the largest goat markets in the Purvanchal region. It attracts traders from numerous districts, including Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Eta, Etawah, Mainpuri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Mau, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Deoria, and Gorakhpur. A trader named Shamim stated that he had taken the contract for the market from the Smart City project for approximately 22 to 24 lakh rupees. He alleged that the Municipal Corporation took sudden action without any prior notice or clear explanation, leaving them in a lurch.
A Decade of Tradition Interrupted
Sanjay Kumar, a trader who arrived from Etawah with 65 goats, shared his plight, stating that he has been coming to the Beniyabagh market for the past 10 years. He reached Varanasi on Sunday night with the hope that the administration would find a solution, but with Bakrid about to begin, his stock remains unsold. He expressed a sense of betrayal, noting that such an incident had never occurred in his decade-long association with this market. The confusion between the Municipal Corporation and the Smart City administration has left the traders caught in the middle, while while Mayor Ashok Tiwari termed it a matter related to the Smart City project, the Municipal Commissioner cited hygiene issues and the violation of set standards as the reasons for the closure.
UP Government Issues High Alert
Amidst the market crisis in Varanasi, the Uttar Pradesh government has gone into high alert mode for Bakrid. The state government has issued strict directives to prevent illegal animal slaughter across the state. Special Secretary Neerja Saxena has instructed all District Magistrates to conduct special inspections of all valid slaughterhouses. Orders have been given to form quick-response teams to curb illegal activities. Plus, the government has emphasized that slaughtering must only take place within the prescribed capacity of authorized slaughterhouses, while strict punitive action will be taken against those involved in illegal slaughter, the operation of unauthorized slaughterhouses, or the illegal transportation of animals. Joint monitoring campaigns by the police and the animal husbandry department are being launched to maintain law and order, ensure public hygiene, and prevent animal cruelty during the festival.