Holi and Bhang go together just like ghee with parathas. Bhang in India has been the unofficial cool-down drink that everyone talks about in hushed tones during the festival of colours.
This green herbal high is mixed in Thandai as a relaxant to soothe you after a crazy day of being turned into a walking rainbow. However, you would be surprised to know that the tryst between bhang and Holi goes beyond its utility as a calming drink.
What Is Bhang
Bhang is prepared by crushing the potent part of the buds and leaves of the female cannabis or marijuana plant into a paste; usually, the higher the concentration, the better. Alongside its prevalence as an intoxicant, the plant also plays an important role in Ayurvedic medicine as a remedy for various ailments, including vomiting, physical pain, and nausea.
While marijuana, in general, sits under the ‘mostly banned’ section of Indian law, bhang has managed to slip through the gaps. While the law explicitly bans parts of the cannabis plant like the resin and flowers, when it comes to the leaves, it slips into silence as loud as our mom’s stare when guests are over and we’ve said something we weren’t supposed to.
This convenient loophole is how government-licensed bhang shops legally operate in cities like Varanasi, Jaisalmer, and Kolkata.
Although, like most things in India, the rules for the sale of marijuana vary by state – some allow the sale, but not the production; others permit production, but not cultivation. This has resulted in a patchwork of permissions that somehow still allows bhang to be a familiar feature during festivals.
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So, Why Is Bhang Linked To Holi?
Bhang and Indian festivals aren’t an accidental stumble along the way, but are deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. Legend has it that during the great Sagar Manthan (the Churning of the Ocean) by the gods and demons, many divine (and dangerous) things emerged out of the act.
One of them was halahal, a deadly poison, which Lord Shiva voluntarily drank to save the universe. Goddess Parvati, Shiva’s wife, held his throat to keep the poison from spreading and offered him bhang as a divine remedy to calm Shiva’s suffering from the poison’s effects.
As per another story, again with Lord Shiva at the centre. After the death of his first wife, Sati, Shiva withdrew from the universe into a deep meditation, which threw the world off balance.
To bring him back, Goddess Parvati tried to woo him to bring him out of his trance. However, nothing worked, trying everything she possibly could, she was assisted by Kamadeva, the god of love, who aimed an arrow tipped with bhang. The plan worked; Shiva stirred, and the balance was restored.
And coincidentally, the day this happened was Holi, and hence, this festival is also celebrated as symbolic of joy, and renewal with a hint of a happy high
From Thandai To Pakoras: Where Bhang Sneaks In
Come Maha Shivratri and Holi, bhang is sprinkled into many a festive dish. Most famously, it’s stirred into creamy thandai – a tradition that’s both cultural and can be sourced legally from authorised vendors.
Then there are bhang pakoras, a fried favourite in northern India, and bhang ki chutney, which you can find without much effort in the hills of Uttarakhand. In some places, even pedas and brownies make an appearance, depending on how festive and adventurous the mood is.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, BBC, CN Traveller
Find the blogger: Sejal Agarwal
This post is tagged under: bhang holi india, festival of colours india, bhang traditions india, thandai with bhang, bhang pakora recipe, shiva and bhang mythology, sagar manthan story, cannabis culture india, ayurveda cannabis, bhang legal status india, indian intoxicants, holi food culture, bhang history hinduism, holi rituals india, holi festival drink, bhang shops varanasi, mahashivratri bhang, thandai recipe india, indian herbal remedies, festival cuisine india, indian mythology festivals, bhang recipes india, traditional indian drinks, cannabis loopholes india, festive traditions india
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