Chandigarh, Aug 26 (IANS): The Haryana government on Wednesday directed officials in various districts of the state to ensure that slaughter houses remain closed from September 11-19.

Haryana Urban Local Bodies minister Kavita Jain asked the concerned officers to keep slaughter houses in the state closed from September 11-19 because of the Jain community festival of 'Paryushan Parv', a state government spokesman said here.

Haryana has a Bharatiya Janata Party government since October last year.

Jain said the nine-day annual festival is celebrated by the community for self purification.

"Commissioners of municipal corporations, deputy commissioners, executive officers of municipal councils and municipalities have been asked to appeal to the owners of slaughter houses not to slaughter animals during the festival," Jain said.

She said the representatives of the Jain community had met her and urged her to ban slaughter of animals during the festival.