The Huge ‘Bhang Idea’: Why Indians drink bhang on Holi

Within the infectious music Balam Pichkari from the Bollywood film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Deepika Padukone dances to the lyrics, “Itna mazaa kyon aa raha hai, tunay hawa mein bhang milaaya (Why am I having a lot enjoyable, you may have combined bhaang within the air).”

This isn’t the one occasion. Bollywood motion pictures are replete with songs that discuss concerning the vibrant pageant of Holi and the custom of ingesting bhang. And it isn’t simply cinema that speaks of bhang being part of Holi celebrations — a glimpse of the festivities from round India is ample proof that ingesting bhaang is an integral a part of the pageant.

However how has bhang come to be synonymous with Holi? How did bhang swing into the Holi melody?

What’s Bhang?

Earlier than we delve into the connection between Holi and bhang, let’s perceive what bhang precisely is.
Bhang is a green-coloured paste created from seeds and leaves of the feminine
hashish plant. Ready by soaking after which grinding the plant materials collectively, the paste is, historically, rolled into easy balls, often known as bhang goli. That is combined into drinks and even snacks resembling pakoras, in addition to chutneys and pickles.

Some information discover that bhang has been round for 1000’s of years and even finds point out in historical texts such because the Vedas. In Ayurveda, bhang is believed to remedy not solely bodily illnesses but additionally anxiousness.

In reality, when the British arrived in India and colonised it, they had been shocked by the consumption of bhang and even commissioned a report to check the consequences and cultural significance. “To forbid and even critically limit using so holy and gracious an herb because the hemp would trigger widespread struggling and annoyance,” the report acknowledged. “It could rob folks of solace in discomfort, of a remedy in illness, of a guardian whose gracious safety saves them from assaults of evil influences.”

How has bhang change into synonymous with Holi?

For years and years, bhang has been linked to Holi. On at the present time, women and men have a good time the pageant by mixing bhang into thandai — a chilly beverage created from milk, sugar and an indulgent mixture of nuts and species resembling almonds, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, poppy seeds, cardamom and saffron.

As standard TV chef Vicky Ratnani mentioned in a BBC report, “The silken, spiced beverage, flavoursome and festive, heightens the sense of merriment and signifies the carefree spirit of Holi.”

In reality, most agree that bhang is strictly what you need at a Holi celebration — colors will probably be brighter, music will sound richer and your senses will probably be heightened.

However how did this come to be? The usage of bhang at Holi is tied to
Lord Shiva. The legend goes that following his spouse Sati’s self-immolation, Shiva went right into a deep meditative state to beat the grief. Parvati sought to convey him again to actuality and marry him. For this, she approached the god of affection, Kamadeva, for assist.

Now, Kamadeva knew interfering with Shiva would have dire penalties. However he additionally knew that Shiva wanted to return again to the true world. So, Kamadeva, on the day of Holi, shot an arrow laced with bhang at Shiva, and broke his trance.

An enraged Shiva burnt Kamadeva to ashes, however he did return to actuality and ended up marrying Parvati. Therefore, believers devour bhang on Holi to mark the return of Shiva to the true world.

Is Bhang authorized in India?

Apparently, India has criminalised hashish underneath 1985’s Narcotic Medication and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Below this regulation, hashish is outlined as a narcotic drug and its cultivation, possession, consumption or transportation is prohibited.

Nevertheless, sure elements of a hashish plant, resembling resin and “flowering or fruiting tops” come underneath this ban. The Act excludes from prohibition its leaves and seeds, that are used for making ready bhang.

In reality, the legality of bhang has been questioned in courts a number of instances over time. As an example, there’s the favored case of Arjun Singh v The State of Haryana, during which the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket dominated that underneath the restrictions of the regulation, it’s not unlawful to devour hashish leaves, however it’s unlawful to develop the plant, making bhang, utterly authorized.

Then in 2022, the Karnataka Excessive Court docket dominated that “bhang just isn’t declared a prohibited drug or drink underneath the Narcotic Medication and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act” and granted bail to a person who was caught with nearly 29 kg of bhang and a few ganja.

Apparently, there are even government-approved bhang retailers in areas like Jaisalmer and Pushkar, and over 200 of them, stay open all yr in Varanasi.

Therefore,
bhang continues to be extensively consumed throughout Holi, the pageant of color.

With inputs from companies