 "The Big ‘Bhang Theory’: Why Indians drink bhang on Holi")
In the infectious song Balam Pichkari from the Bollywood movie 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 so much fun, you have mixed bhaang in the air).”
This isn’t the only instance. Bollywood movies are replete with songs that talk about the colourful festival of Holi and the tradition of drinking bhang. And it isn’t just cinema that speaks of bhang being a part of Holi celebrations — a glimpse of the festivities from around India is ample proof that drinking bhaang is an integral part of the festival.
But how has bhang come to be synonymous with Holi? How did bhang swing into the Holi melody?
What is Bhang?
Before we delve into the relationship between Holi and bhang, let’s understand what bhang exactly is. Bhang is a green-coloured paste made from seeds and leaves of the female cannabis plant. Prepared by soaking and then grinding the plant material together, the paste is, traditionally, rolled into smooth balls, known as bhang goli. This is mixed into drinks or even snacks such as pakoras, as well as chutneys and pickles.
Some records find that bhang has been around for thousands of years and even finds mention in ancient texts such as the Vedas. In Ayurveda, bhang is believed to cure not only physical ailments but also anxiety.
In fact, when the British arrived in India and colonised it, they were surprised by the consumption of bhang and even commissioned a report to study the effects and cultural significance. “To forbid or even seriously restrict the use of so holy and gracious an herb as the hemp would cause widespread suffering and annoyance,” the report stated. “It would rob people of solace in discomfort, of a cure in sickness, of a guardian whose gracious protection saves them from attacks of evil influences.”
How has bhang become synonymous with Holi?
For years and years, bhang has been linked to Holi. On this day, men and women celebrate the festival by mixing bhang into thandai — a cold beverage made from milk, sugar and an indulgent mix of nuts and species such as almonds, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, poppy seeds, cardamom and saffron.
As popular TV chef Vicky Ratnani said in a BBC report, “The silken, spiced beverage, flavoursome and festive, heightens the sense of merriment and signifies the carefree spirit of Holi.”
In fact, most agree that bhang is exactly what you want at a Holi party — colours will be brighter, music will sound richer and your senses will be heightened.
But how did this come to be? The use of bhang at Holi is tied to Lord Shiva . The legend goes that following his wife Sati’s self-immolation, Shiva went into a deep meditative state to overcome the grief. Parvati sought to bring him back to reality and marry him. For this, she approached the god of love, Kamadeva, for help.
Now, Kamadeva knew interfering with Shiva would have dire consequences. But he also knew that Shiva needed to come back to the real 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, but he did return to reality and ended up marrying Parvati. Hence, believers consume bhang on Holi to mark the return of Shiva to the real world.
Is Bhang legal in India?
Interestingly, India has criminalised cannabis under 1985’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Under this law, cannabis is defined as a narcotic drug and its cultivation, possession, consumption or transportation is prohibited.
However, certain parts of a cannabis plant, such as resin and “flowering or fruiting tops” come under this ban. The Act excludes from prohibition its leaves and seeds, which are used for preparing bhang.
In fact, the legality of bhang has been questioned in courts several times over the years. For instance, there’s the popular case of Arjun Singh v The State of Haryana, in which the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that under the restrictions of the law, it’s not illegal to consume cannabis leaves, but it is illegal to grow the plant, making bhang, completely legal.
Then in 2022, the Karnataka High Court ruled that “bhang is not declared a prohibited drug or drink under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act” and granted bail to a man who was caught with almost 29 kg of bhang and some ganja.
Interestingly, there are even government-approved bhang shops in locations like Jaisalmer and Pushkar, and over 200 of them, remain open all year in Varanasi.
Hence, bhang continues to be widely consumed during Holi, the festival of colour.
With inputs from agencies
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