World Marks International Meatless Day on Sadhu Vaswani’s 146th Birth Anniversary
Pune, 26th November 2025: Millions across the world observed International Meatless Day on Tuesday to commemorate the 146th birth anniversary of spiritual leader Sadhu T.L. Vaswani, reaffirming his message of compassion towards all living beings.
According to the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, a total of 32,99,413 people pledged to observe November 25 as Meatless Day this year. Additionally, 8,91,80,759 people expressed their support for the initiative, while 2,647 individuals committed to adopting a lifelong vegetarian lifestyle.
Slaughterhouses in the state of Uttar Pradesh and several other regions across India remained closed in observance of the day.
Global Participation, Rallies and Service Activities
Celebrations spanned continents with rallies, spiritual gatherings, creative competitions, and awareness campaigns highlighting the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.
In Pune, Ulhasnagar, Bilaspur, Indore, Ahmedabad and other cities, peace rallies saw enthusiastic participation from students and youth groups. At Sadhu Vaswani International School in Pradhikaran, over 3,200 students joined a rally inaugurated by Didi Krishna, Head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, who urged children to spread the message of vegetarianism.
Internationally, the USA hosted a Feast for Peace event led by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna, where youth cooked and enjoyed vegetarian dishes while learning about sustainable food choices. Similar workshops were organised in Dallas, Jakarta, Bengaluru and Delhi by the Mission’s youth wings.
Influential personalities also lent their support, including celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who highlighted the campaign on his FoodFood channel’s social media platform.
A GREENHANDS campaign launched in the USA to promote environmental awareness received positive response from the community. In Malaysia, Dr. Kelvin Koay presented a lecture linking dietary habits with climate change, motivating many—including educators and community leaders—to pledge to go meat-free.
Hotels and restaurants in West Africa, Panama, Ahmedabad and Pune either limited their menus to vegetarian dishes or closed in support of the initiative, with some offering special discounts to customers.
Events at Pune Headquarters
At the Mission headquarters in Pune, the day began with devotional songs, prayers and meditation, followed by a special service in which artificial limbs were distributed to the differently-abled. Swami Mukundananda, Founder of JKYog, addressed the gathering and spoke about Sadhu Vaswani’s teachings. Didi Krishna also shared guidance with devotees.
A community Langar served thousands of participants, embodying the spirit of unity and service. The celebrations concluded with evening bhajans and a midnight satsang.
The Sadhu Vaswani Mission stated that International Meatless Day continues to grow globally each year, reflecting a rising awareness about compassion, ethical food choices and environmental sustainability.
