In Jaipur, many people are protesting against a plan to change the name of Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, to ‘Aburaj Teerth.’ They’re also upset about a proposal to ban eating meat and drinking alcohol in public places. These changes could harm the local economy, as many businesses depend on tourism.
On April 25, the local government asked the commissioner for feedback on the idea of renaming Mount Abu and stopping open consumption of meat and alcohol. The Nagar Parishad had already passed this name change in a board meeting last year, but it still needs approval from the state government. Several local lawmakers wrote to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, urging him to support this change due to Mount Abu’s religious importance.
However, local business owners are worried. They argue that Mount Abu is a well-known name around the world, and changing it may cause confusion for tourists. They fear that banning non-vegetarian food and alcohol will lead to fewer visitors, hurting local businesses.
Twenty-three groups, including the Mount Abu Hotel Association and other community organizations, delivered a memo to the chief minister’s office. Saurabh Gangadia, from the hotel association, shared that around 5,000 tourists come to Mount Abu daily, especially from nearby Gujarat, which doesn’t allow alcohol. He warned that if tourism declines due to these changes, many people who depend on tourism for their jobs might lose their income.
Dinesh Mali, from the Street Vendors Committee, emphasized that changing the name and imposing these bans could greatly harm the local economy, leading to job losses and business closings. They pointed out that Mount Abu is recognized worldwide, appearing in travel guides, Google Maps, and even academic books.
Mount Abu has a rich history that goes back to ancient texts. It was called “Arbudaranya” or “forest of Arbhuda” in those times and is linked to stories about sage Vashistha and a serpent named Arbhuda, who once saved a holy creature.
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