From food to fashion, Kol named India’s best vegan-friendly city by animal rights group
Times of India | 22 November 2025
Kolkata: An animal rights group has named Kolkata as India's most vegan-friendly city of 2025. Mayor Firhad Hakim, who is also the minister-in-charge of urban development and municipal affairs, was presented with the award by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) in recognition of the plethora of vegan foods common in Bengali cuisine and the city's vegan-friendly eateries, events, and fashion designers.
The honour may come as a surprise to many, given the common perception that the cuisine on offer in Kolkata is primarily non-vegetarian, notwithstanding the burgeoning Marwari and Gujarati population that is primarily vegetarian. However, vegan goes beyond vegetarian, as it also includes the non-consumption of animal products like milk, paneer, and ghee, all key ingredients in vegetarian households. This is where traditional Bengali cuisine scores high. "Bengali cuisine is far richer in vegan options, from street favourites like ghugni, jhalmuri to home-style dishes like ‘aloo-posto', ‘biulir dal' with ‘begun bhaja' to comforting meals like ‘patla musur dal' with ‘aloo seddho' and ‘postor bora', there are a lot of vegan options in Bengali meals," said PETA India's senior manager (vegan and corporate projects), Kiran Ahuja.
Digital marketing executive Abhishek Das, who has been a vegan since 2019, says it's been far easier to be so than people imagine. "Once you shift your mindset, you realise Bengal already offers so many naturally vegan dishes: fuchka, ghugni, fuluri, vegetable chop, jhalmuri, alu kabli," he said. Restaurants in Kolkata are also offering plant-based biryani with mock meat and mock seafood so that ‘macher jhol' can be made the compassionate way. There are also joints that serve flavourful stir-fries, inventive salads, tofu specialities, plant milks, vegan cake, and ice cream. Eastern India's first vegan food distribution firm, ‘Vegan World', also calls Kolkata home. "Across all age groups, we're seeing incredible curiosity about vegan living. People want cleaner, kinder food choices. Our mock meats help recreate the same beloved flavours of Bengali & Kolkata's signature dishes—only healthier, better for the environment, and completely cruelty-free," said vegan daily founder, Madhuja Dey.
Bolstering Kolkata's animal-friendly reputation is a lively vegan fashion scene, with locally-based business houses crafting high-quality, sustainable, and affordable plant-based leather and a variety of chic, animal-free accessories. Earlier this year, Kolkata was also the venue for an animal-awareness themed Durga Puja.The city also hosts a budding animal-friendly Facebook community: Kolkata Vegans.
"Consumers around the world are increasingly seeking fashion that aligns with their values," said vegan leather brand Eori founder, Manish Prateek. "Kolkata is an unexpectedly delightful destination for vegans and the vegan-curious," said PETA India advocacy associate Chumki Dutta.