A new campaign over the use of the term “veg biryani” has sparked discussion in Haridwar, with religious groups and local residents replacing signboards carrying the term with “veg pulao” across parts of the city.
The campaign was reportedly launched by religious leaders associated with the Akhand Parshuram Akhada and members of the saint community. Under the leadership of Shri Hindu Takht state president Yash Dev Kaushik, members of saint organisations, Brahmin groups, and some Muslim residents jointly visited shops, food stalls and roadside vendors in Haridwar and Kankhal to remove posters mentioning “veg biryani” and replace them with “veg pulao” signs.
Supporters of the campaign say the move is linked to preserving the religious and cultural identity of Haridwar, which is regarded as one of Hinduism’s sacred cities.
‘Haridwar’s Identity Should Be Preserved’
Speaking about the campaign, Yash Dev Kaushik said that areas such as Mayapuri and Har Ki Pauri should use the term “pulao” instead of “biryani.”
He argued that the word “biryani” often creates an image of non-vegetarian food in people’s minds, while “pulao” is seen as being more closely connected with Indian cultural traditions.
“Haridwar is a religious and cultural city, so its traditions and identity should be maintained,” Kaushik said.
Saints Back the Move
The campaign has also received support from saints linked to the Juna Akhada. Bhaskar Puri Maharaj, chief priest of the Maya Devi temple, said words have a strong impact on society and influence how people think about food and culture.
He said replacing “biryani” with “pulao” could bring a change in people’s perceptions and described the effort as part of maintaining the sanctity of the Ganga riverbank and religious places.
“Words affect society deeply. If the word ‘pulao’ is used instead of ‘biryani’, it can influence food habits and public thinking,” he said.
Muslim Community Members Also Participate
The campaign drew attention because some members of the Muslim community also participated in it.
Naushad Ali Shabri, president of the National Sufi Saint Foundation, said both “biryani” and “pulao” are words linked to Persian language traditions, but added that pulao is also seen as connected to Indian cultural roots.
He said if a particular word hurts the sentiments of any community, there is no issue in adopting an alternative term.
“If a word hurts someone’s sentiments, there is no harm in using another word,” Shabri said.
