Traditionally,
Holi the festival of colours was a kind of letting down of one’s hair after the
harvest was over. When all the toil and work was done, it was time for a bit of
levity – and maybe levitation of the spirits. So, along with the riotous
splashing of colours on everyone, the mood is also on a high thanks to bhang,
without which no respectable Holi celebration especially in North India is
complete.
What
exactly is ‘bhang’?
It’s a
paste that is made by pounding the buds and tender leaves of the female
cannabis plant. It is usually pounded with a mortar and a pestle and then mixed
into a drink or added to food. During Holi, the most popular way to have bhang
is to mix it into milk which has been sweetened and into which spices and almond
paste have been added. It is usually drunk cold. At some Holi parties, bhang is
also served in snacks like pakoras – or savoury fried dumplings.
Bhang’s
been around
It’s very
much a part of Indian history and culture. The plant is considered holy and has
been associated with Lord Shiva who, it is said, was the one who discovered the
transcendental properties of this plant. This is probably why even today on the
banks of the Ganges in the holy city of Benaras, you will still see bhang being
prepared all round the year. It is after all, Lord Shiva’s holy place.
The
benefits of bhang
The
practice of making bhang a part of the happy events in one’s life goes back to
at least a thousand years. While some believed it was an enjoyment not to be
missed, especially during celebrations, others firmly believed it was
beneficial to health. Physically, bhang is said to be good for so many ailments
from indigestion to fever to dullness. Mentally, it is said to make you very
alert. And spiritually, it is supposed to raise you to the plane of ecstasy.
According to traditional nutritionists, it is a complete food that corrects any
deficiency in the body and strengthens the immune system.
Bhang
moments – each to his own
Every bhang
experience is different. Some keep laughing and can’t seem to stop. Others just
have this warm feeling inside of them. For most, it’s a great sense of freedom
that washes over them, helping them forget proprieties and plunge headlong into
the fun the festival demands. It’s an enlivening experience that has no equal.
Bhang and
music
Besides
Holi, bhang is popular at music festivals too. Mixed into flour which has
spices added, it is then made into papads or poppadoms which are carried into
the venue. With bhang inside you, the sound of music affects all your senses,
filling you with joy with each note that is played or sung.
A plant you
probably wouldn’t notice if you didn’t know – and it has such power. The potent
way it affects the mind, body and soul is something that stays on in the memory
long after the last bit of colour of Holi is washed off.
