Every year, lakhs of families in Mumbai perform qurbani on Bakri Eid (Eid al-Adha). Qurbani is lawful, but in Mumbai it must follow the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s religious slaughter policy, which the Bombay High Court has supervised for years. Most disputes, police complaints and cancelled permissions arise because families skip a step. This guide explains the rules so you can plan well before Eid. Bakri Eid in 2027 is expected around mid-May, subject to the sighting of the moon.
The rules at a glance
| Question | Position in Mumbai |
|---|---|
| Is permission needed? | Yes. BMC requires prior permission for religious slaughter, applied for online through the MyBMC app or the BMC website |
| Where can qurbani be done? | At BMC-designated locations (109 spots across the city in 2026, including municipal markets and licensed shops), at Deonar abattoir, or at a housing society or private premises with a society NOC and BMC permission |
| Goats and sheep | Permitted at the designated or permitted places |
| Buffaloes | Under BMC’s policy, religious slaughter of buffaloes only at the Deonar abattoir |
| Cows, bulls and bullocks | Slaughter prohibited in Maharashtra under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, as amended in 1995 (in force since 2015) |
| Public roads, footpaths, open spaces | Not permitted |
The number of designated spots and the dates of the Deonar market change each year; BMC announces them a few weeks before Eid.
Step by step
- Decide where the qurbani will take place: a designated spot near you, Deonar, or your building.
- If it is your building or private premises, obtain a written No Objection Certificate from the housing society (managing committee). BMC’s policy, sanctioned by the High Court, requires both the society’s NOC and permission from the ward office.
- Apply online on the MyBMC app or BMC website, choose the location, and upload the NOC where required.
- Buying animals: traders bringing animals into the city need import permits and slots, which BMC issues online for the Deonar market.
- On the day: keep the permission on your phone, use the permitted place only, and follow hygiene and waste-disposal directions. Blood and waste must not be released into drains or public spaces.
Qurbani in housing societies: the flashpoint
- In June 2024, hearing a petition by residents of a building at Lamington Road, the Bombay High Court directed the police and BMC to ensure there was no sacrifice in housing societies that did not have municipal permission.
- BMC can, and does, cancel a permission if it finds problems, and direct the family to a nearby designated shop instead, as happened at a Goregaon building in 2026.
- Societies cannot be compelled to give an NOC, but a refusal should be decided by the managing committee in accordance with its bye-laws and without discrimination.
- Outside BMC limits the rules differ. In August 2026, the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation resolved to ban bringing goats into, and performing qurbani in, housing societies, homes and shops, and to allow it only at designated spots and temporary mandaps. Residents of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar should check their own corporation’s rules.
Keeping goats at home before Eid
Keeping a goat for a few days before Eid can lead to objections from neighbours and the society. Check the society’s rules, keep the animal clean and secure, avoid common areas, and do not tie animals on roads or footpaths. Cruelty to animals, including cramped transport and denial of water, is an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
If you face a complaint or police action
- Show your BMC permission and the society NOC; most disputes end there.
- If police register a case, for example alleging slaughter without permission or of a prohibited animal, take advice immediately. See police notices under Section 35 BNSS.
- If a society or neighbours harass you over a lawful, permitted qurbani, record the facts and consider a police complaint for intimidation. See if the police refuse an FIR.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do qurbani in my building’s parking area without permission?
No. Within BMC limits, qurbani at a building needs both the society’s NOC and BMC permission.
Can I do qurbani of a buffalo at a designated market spot?
Under BMC’s policy, religious slaughter of buffaloes is permitted only at the Deonar abattoir.
Do mosques or trusts organising collective qurbani need anything extra?
Yes. Collective qurbani needs BMC permission for the location, and an organisation collecting money from the public for it may also need to consider Charity Commissioner rules. See Section 41C permission for collecting donations.
Is qurbani allowed in Thane or Navi Mumbai housing societies?
Each municipal corporation sets its own rules. Check with your local corporation well before Eid.
See also: housing society disputes and Waqf Board or Charity Commissioner.
Planning ahead? See the festival permissions calendar 2026–27 for dates and when to start preparing, or all festival guides.
Consultations are by appointment. To fix a time, telephone +91 99301 50560 or send a message on WhatsApp.
This guide describes the law and BMC’s policy as understood in October 2026. Rules and designated locations are announced afresh each year; check BMC’s current announcement before Eid. It is not legal advice.
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