Air near Pashupatinath temple laced with marijuana

ANI |
Up to date: Mar 01, 2022 16:13 IST

Kathmandu [Nepal], March 1 (ANI): Thick plume of smoke fills the air, floating throughout the Bagmati River that flows by way of Kathmandu, because the devotees of Lord Shiva throng the Pashupatinath temple.
Marijuana has spiritual significance among the many followers of Lord Shiva. The air close to the Pashupatinath temple smells of heavy smokes exhaled by the followers who’ve thronged the highest spiritual attraction of Kathmandu to have fun Maha Shivaratri. Marijuana is consumed as “Prasad” of Lord Shiva, the revered god in Hindu mythology.
“I often come right here at Pashupatinath temple round Maha Shivaratri to blow weeds which might be introduced by Babaji (Sadhus). I do not eat it steadily however getting excessive on hashish provides a distinct feeling,” Kumar Pandey, a devotee who thronged the temple on the event of Maha Shivaratri, instructed ANI.
As soon as thought-about protected haven for hashish and a favorite vacation spot for hippies, the pageant of Maha Shivaratri brings hundreds to the premises of Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.
Sadhus, the seers who’ve devoted their lives to Lord Shiva, throng the temple yearly and produce hashish for their very own consumption which is typically distributed to fellow devotees in restricted quantities.

“The air right here could be very purple. The air could be very purple right here, the smoke has lined many of the space right here (Pashupatinath temple). Baba Jee (Sadhus) are having marijuana in addition to a few of the devotees lighting up the hearth. The smoke is combined right here and it is seen within the sky as properly,” Topendra Bahadur Singh, one of many devotees on the journey over hashish instructed ANI.
Nepal has banned private consumption and gross sales of marijuana since 1976 and an individual consuming the banned substances can face a jail time period of 1 month or a decade relying on the seized amount. However the pageant of Maha Shivaratri has grow to be an exception for individuals to return out and get “excessive” on the plant-based drug which sooner will likely be legalized in Nepal for medicinal functions.
Nepal’s Ministry of House Affairs is engaged on customary working procedures to let individuals eat the drug beneath sure phrases and situations.
“The ministry’s coverage, planning, monitoring and analysis division is engaged on it to outline provisions for regulation of marijuana cultivation. We all know it was getting used for medicinal functions for ages, however now it is going to be introduced beneath the ambit of the legislation. However the course of continues to be within the stage of infancy,” Phadindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson on the Ministry instructed ANI over the cellphone.
Nepal’s chairing Well being Minister Birodh Khatiwada additionally has been elevating his voice in assist of the legalization proposal which has been laid on the desk of Parliament by one other fellow Parliamentarian.
Although the legalization of hashish appears nonetheless far-off, the herb which has been proved to have medicinal values in curing varied illnesses has a excessive demand in Nepal.
“A lot of the Nepali residents are additionally in favour of legalization of Marijuana within the nation. That is as a result of it’s mentioned to remedy most cancers,” Singh mentioned. (ANI)