Citing the religious sentiments of the Jain community, the Gujarat government has ordered the closure of abattoirs across the state for nine days beginning Wednesday.

Urban Development Minister I.K. Jadeja issued a note to all corporations and district collectors to ensure the closure of slaughterhouses for the period coinciding with the "Paryushan Parva" of Jains.

While it has been a tradition to keep abattoirs closed for the Paryushan period following a recommendation by the state government, a Gujarat High Court ruling had held that the state government could not make such recommendations.

But in an interim order, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the municipal corporations were free to decide on the issue.

Ahmedabad municipal commissioner Anil Mukim has ordered the closure of abattoirs in the city.

Other cities of Gujarat too are implementing the nine-day ban on slaughterhouses. In all, 39 main slaughterhouses and more than 1,900 licensed meat shops in cities and towns across the state will remain closed till Sep 8.

The order has been welcomed by Jains, with vegetarianism and non-violence being the bedrock of their faith.

"We are pleased with the development. We wish the practice of non-violence spreads outside Gujarat as well," said Kirtichandra Vijayji Maharaj, a Jain monk.