Easy access to seventh heaven

Spring has a way of bringing a treasure trove of goodies for us, mere mortals, living in India. And from Holi to Baisakhi, people in several north Indian states have a very ingenious way of achieving a higher plane of existence, using a very local product. Bhang.

This Holi, like everyone else in India, I had my fair share of colors. It was quite enjoyable, since we had a small Holi party in the place where we live. And then, one of my jittery neighbors, pulled out a bottle, full of a greenish fluid, and started mixing it with the thandai, which is a sweet drink made with milk, sugar and crushed almonds. If you grew up in north India, you would immediately realize what was going on. And, if you were a brave soul amongst the uninitiated, you would definitely get ready to take a swig. Yes, the holy concoction of bhang, accompanied by its devoted followers, was blessing us with its presence. And, like Tennyson so famously said, ours was not to reason why. So, I drank my fair share of it. And since this was after many years without, I didn't realize what would hit me in a couple of hours. I had absolutely no idea.

Bhang, as a recreational drug, is a banned substance in most of the world. But, in India, due to historical use in religious ceremonies, it is borderline legal. It is made by grinding the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant into a fine paste. Then, it is usually mixed with milk and crushed nuts, with a lot of sugar. And, unlike alcohol, the intoxication is delayed. So usually, you will find out how much you drank, an hour after drinking it. If you are someone who strongly believes that every cloud has a silver lining, then you could argue that after drinking bhang, you don't need a designated driver, if you live a short drive away. If the drive is longer, the chances are, that you will see a rainbow around your clouds, and for some strange reason, you will laugh a lot. Uncontrollably. As if, you are in seventh heaven.

Bhang is extremely popular amongst the vagabond ascetics in India. During the breaks they take between Yoga and meditation, they usually smoke pot. And, if the throat gets too dry, they drink bhang. The devotees of Lord Shiva look at the entire process of grinding cannabis leaves, and making bhang, as a religious exercise, and the holy drink is first offered to the Lord before it is consumed. And then, everyone just sits around and laughs. Uncontrollably.

There is a beautiful Bollywood song from the seventies that captures the bhang drinking phenomenon quite accurately. You can see the entire act of preparation, offering and intoxication in a short, but entertaining video clip. And, the beautiful Himalayas, where Lord Shiva lives, are in the background. So is a small but beautiful temple where he is worshiped.  Enjoy!