Guwahati: Pratishtha Divas is celebrated by India and Hindus across the globe. From far and near, people came to Ayodhya or sat for hours in front of their LEDs and laptops just to have a glance at Lord Ram. Amid this celebration, the hotel's owners and eating joints played their part.

The instruction to maintain a vegetarian diet and close slaughterhouses came from the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a press conference. He instructed that shops and slaughterhouses selling meat, chicken, and fish should remain shut till 4 p.m. on January 22, the day the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple took place. Hoteliers who spoke to Business North East on the issue said they were not disappointed with the instructions and followed them sincerely.

A Taj Vivanta official, speaking to Business North East, said they kept the food vegetarian, heeding the CM's request. Local restauranteur Sobhan Sekhar Borthakur, whose Akhol restaurant specializes in 'thalis', said they had restricted their menu to only include paneer and vegetables. "We know that no one will ask for nonvegetarian food today," he said.

IORA Kitchen, a chain devoted to fast foods, closed their kitchens entirely and were serving the customers only processed food already available to them, they said.

Some city KFCs were also closed today as a mark of reverence for the occasion. However, vegetarian restaurants were filled to the brim with customers.