The Dhulagarh cattle market, a major hub for Eid al-Adha preparations on the outskirts of Kolkata, has seen a dramatic drop in activity less than a week before the Muslim festival. Traders report a lack of customers, with over 200 head of cattle remaining unsold as the summer heat beats down.

This year's subdued market comes in the wake of a significant political shift in West Bengal, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won power for the first time on May 6. The festival of Eid al-Adha, which involves ritualistic sacrifice, is a crucial period for cattle traders in the state, which has a Muslim population of nearly 25 million.

One Hindu seller, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, stated that many people are "living in fear," explaining the absence of buyers. This contrasts with previous decades where the Dhulagarh market thrived with Hindu sellers and Muslim buyers participating in the tradition of 'qurbani' (sacrifice).

The new political climate has led to the strict implementation of a 1950 law prohibiting cattle slaughter without official certification. The law also mandates that slaughter must occur in designated facilities and that animals must be over 14 years old. Previously, state governments had been lenient in enforcing these regulations, contributing to West Bengal's status as a food hub.

New Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's administration has signaled a departure from this approach. The directive for strict enforcement of the cattle slaughter law has created uncertainty, particularly for the ritualistic sacrifice central to Eid al-Adha, where many Muslim families pool resources to sacrifice larger animals like steers, buffalo, or camels, dividing the meat into seven shares.

While the law's strict implementation is a departure from past practices in West Bengal, it aligns with the BJP's broader stance on cattle protection, as many Hindus consider cattle sacred. The economic impact on traders, many of whom take out high-interest loans to purchase stock for the festival, is a growing concern.

The current situation at the Dhulagarh market raises questions about the future of traditional practices and the economic well-being of those involved in the livestock trade during religious festivals. The coming days will likely reveal the full extent of the impact of these new regulations.

Many traders invested heavily in their stock, anticipating the usual demand for Eid al-Adha. The unexpected scarcity of buyers has left them in a precarious financial position, with their livelihoods hanging in the balance due to the altered regulatory landscape.