Ahmedabad’s municipal food department has made FSSAI registration mandatory for every food stall operating at Navratri events in 2026, warning that stalls without registration could be sealed during inspections.
The requirement will apply across the city’s commercial garba venues, party plots and large housing societies. More than 80 small and large commercial Navratri events are expected in Ahmedabad, in addition to major celebrations organised by residential societies, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s food department said organisers must ensure that every food stall has the required registration from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Organisers have also been advised not to allot space to vendors who have not completed the registration process.
A key part of the municipal instruction is that registration will be required separately for each stall. If the same vendor operates multiple stalls at different locations, each stall must have its own registration. The department said stall holders can complete the process online.
The rule places responsibility on more than the individual vendor or caterer. The municipal food department had stated last week that if inedible or unsafe food is found at garba events, action could be taken against vendors or caterers as well as organisers and event committees. The warning links food-safety compliance to the way festival spaces are planned, allotted and supervised.
For residents and visitors, the measure will affect temporary food outlets that operate alongside music, dance and other Navratri activities. Unlike permanent restaurants, these stalls are created for a limited period and may be spread across party plots, event grounds and residential premises. The municipal requirement therefore makes stall-level registration a condition for operating within the festival environment.
The department’s notice also gives organisers a compliance role before events begin. They are expected to verify registration before allocating stalls rather than waiting for enforcement teams to identify non-compliant vendors during the festival. This shifts part of the monitoring process to event committees and venue managers.
Municipal food officials will conduct checks during Navratri. Stalls found operating without FSSAI registration may face action extending to sealing, according to the department’s warning. The supplied report does not specify the number of inspection teams, the dates of the checks, or any additional penalties beyond the stated enforcement action.
The immediate next step for vendors and organisers is to complete the required registration and ensure that separate registrations are available for separate stalls before the events begin. The food department’s inspections during Navratri will determine compliance at the operating sites.
