During Dashain, when meat dishes take center stage in most Nepali households, it’s rare to find families that completely avoid meat. Yet, in Dang’s Pratappur village, not a single animal is slaughtered, nor is meat ever cooked. This unique village remains entirely vegetarian, even during the country’s biggest festival.
Located near the Postal Highway in Rajpur Rural Municipality–3, Pratappur is home to around 70 households and a population of over 400. Most residents belong to the Yadav community and are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Deeply religious, the villagers believe that killing animals is a sin and have practiced a strictly vegetarian lifestyle for generations.
Daily devotion, worship, prayers, and sattvic (pure) food have long been a tradition in the community. Local resident Bhagwan Yadav said that the customs passed down by their ancestors are still being preserved. “Our young generation also follows the same traditions,” he said.
Another local, Dwarika Prasad Yadav, said villagers neither eat fish nor raise animals like goats, chickens, or ducks. “Instead, we eat curd, milk, ghee, and sweets,” she said. Buffaloes are raised solely for milk and dairy products, which have become the village’s main source of livelihood.
According to community leader Dukha Haran Yadav, hundreds of buffaloes are reared commercially in the village. “We believe in sattvic food, and the idea that taking life is against human religion is deeply rooted here,” he said.
Resident Binita Yadav added that the villagers not only abstain from meat but also strictly prohibit alcohol. “Fish, meat, and alcoholic beverages are banned here. Selling, distributing, or consuming them is not allowed. Even the younger generation follows this rule,” she said.
The community’s vegetarian practice extends beyond festivals like Dashain and Tihar. Even during weddings and feasts, only vegetarian food—mainly dairy-based dishes, fruits, and legumes—is served.
Local Dilli Yadav said that even when advised by doctors to eat meat for health reasons, villagers prefer alternatives. “Instead of meat or fish, we eat fruits, legumes, curd, milk, and other nutritious foods,” he said.
