Rakesh Wazir, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Katra, has urged visitors to refrain from consuming alcohol while in the town to uphold the sanctity of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. His remarks followed an incident where socialite Orhan Awatramani, also known as Orry, and seven others were allegedly found drinking alcohol near the shrine.
Wazir emphasized that Katra enforces a strict no-alcohol policy to preserve the spiritual atmosphere of the area. He explained that even garlic and onions are excluded from local food preparations to maintain the sanctity of the pilgrimage. “As long as you are in Katra, you should avoid alcohol. This is our belief,” Wazir stated, adding that while alcohol may have been consumed privately in a hotel room, it remains crucial for visitors to respect the rules of the town.
The controversy arose when Bollywood socialite Orhan Awatramani (Orry) and several others were named in an FIR filed by Katra police on March 15. The group allegedly consumed alcohol at a hotel despite being informed that alcohol and non-vegetarian food were prohibited in the area, which is a significant pilgrimage site.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a press release confirming the lodging of the FIR against Awatramani and seven other individuals—Darshan Singh, Parth Raina, Ritick Singh, Rashi Dutta, Rakshita Bhogal, Shagun Kohli, and Anastasila Arzamaskina. They were found violating the town’s strict regulations, which prohibit alcohol consumption and non-vegetarian food in the hotel premises.
The release further stated that Katra police acted swiftly following the complaint, with strict instructions issued by SSP Reasi, Paramvir Singh, to apprehend the offenders. The aim is to set an example of zero tolerance for such acts that disrespect the religious sentiments of the local community. A special team was formed under the supervision of SP Katra, DySP Katra, and SHO Katra to track down the individuals responsible for violating the rules.