Come Holi and you see a bunch of excited kids playing and splashing water on each other. There is a certain excitement among them to indulge in colours and create a mess, which is traditionally allowed. It is a happy mess. The festival of colours, Holi is going to be celebrated on 2nd and 3rd of March, 2018. The two-day celebrations will see the lighting of bonfire followed by the play of colours. While the kids enjoy the festivities of colours, a lot many people look forward to celebrations for the merriment of Bhang. Thandai, a cool refreshing drink with a mix of nuts is a typical celebratory drink but when the cannabis leaves are crushed in and mixed, it is called Bhang.

For years together, Bhang-infused products have been enjoyed and indulged in on Holi. But the cultivation, sale, purchase, transportation of marijuana is prohibited in the country. Since a bhang is actually a paste of cannabis, there are questions about the legality of the consumption within the country. So are people breaking the law openly if they are having Bhang on Holi? Well, there are big loopholes in the drug laws imposed by the country which pave a smoother way to consume Bhang.

But then again arises the big question-

Is Bhang Legal in India?

India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act from 1985 calls cannabis as a hard narcotic drug. But the definition of cannabis is, “the flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant (excluding the seeds and leaves when not accompanied by the tops) from which the resin has not been extracted, by whatever name they may be designated.”

The preparation of Bhang uses the leaves of the plant, so it is left out from the official definition. So, its consumption then becomes available. The right to consume Bhang is tested in different states, courts later. In Maharashtra, Section 66(1)(b) of the Bombay Prohibition (BP) Act, 1949, bans manufacture, possession and consumption of bhang and bhang-containing substances without a license. So the rules vary from state to state.

Another loophole in the law is the cultivation of marijuana is prohibited but the trees which grow on their own wildly are allowed. So the natural growth of marijuana in some areas is helping in the consumption of bhang! And over the years, it is culturally intertwined and thus there are no strict laws. Varanasi which celebrates the festival in much zest has government-approved bhang shops in the city! Some other places also have such shops which are licensed. Holi Thandai Recipes: How to Make Bhang Drinks at Home and Enjoy the Spirit of the Festival of Colours

Here's a bhang shop in Jaisalmer:

Does bhang have any religious significance?

You may be aware of Lord Shiva and his association with cannabis but do you know the story behind it? A legend states, that once when Shiva had a fight with his parents he ran into a field of the wild plantation. He fell asleep under a leafy plant. When Shiva woke up, he chewed the leaves of this plant and felt rejuvenated. It soon became Shiva’s favorite food.

Another story states that whenever Shiva had the bhang, he felt deeply concentrated and blissful. So this is why even his followers believe that smoking cannabis can help them be in a calm and blissful state like Him.

Lord Shiva meditating:

A post shared by @lord.shiva on

A story in the Vedas mentions that during the big fight ‘Samudra Mathan’ between the Gods and Demons for a nectar, a drop of it fell on the Mount Madra. A plant sprouted from the drop and the drink made from the leaves (Bhang) became a favourite of the Gods. It is sometimes termed as the Somras. Although it is still unclear if Somras and bhang mean the same thing.

We commonly hear of Thandai with bhang. But there is also bhang lassi and bhang pakora which are available in some parts of the country during the festival of Holi. Today, the cool drink has become expectant on the festival. It is said to give a kick in the already vibrant atmosphere. If you too are planning to experience the same thrill with consumption of bhang, then we advice you to be cautious. Have a safe Holi, guys!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 28, 2018 01:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).