On the sacred grounds of the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, a convergence of faith and cannabis culture takes place every year during the Maha Shivaratri festival. This grand celebration, which draws tens of thousands of Hindu devotees, is unlike any religious festival you may have come across. For a single day, cannabis—currently illegal under Nepali law—becomes an exception, transforming from a banned substance into a symbol of personal spirituality and a vital element of Hindu cultural and religious traditions.
Historical Significance of Shivaratri and the Relenvance of Cannabis
Shivaratri, which translates to “The Night of Shiva,” is one of the most significant religious festivals for Hindus. Shivaratri is observed every month, but Maha Shivaratri, the most important of them all, is celebrated once a year with great devotion. Devotees celebrated Maha Shivaratri on Wednesday night this year. Dedicated to Shiva, the deity associated with meditation, destruction, and renewal, devotees from Nepal and India gather at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, to pray, meditate, and experience spiritual euphoria.
Cannabis plays a central role in the celebration, deeply connected to Shiva’s lore. In Hindu mythology, Shiva consumed cannabis to relax and meditate. Many people smoke marijuana during Shivaratri to honor this tradition.
Although Nepal normally outlaws marijuana use, Shivaratri provides a rare exemption. For the festival, the Bankali forests near the Pashupatinath temple transform into a hub where devotees openly smoke cannabis, an act referred to as taking ‘Shivako Prasad’ or ‘Shiva Buti,’ literally meaning the “Blessing of Shiva,” which they say fosters a sense of connection with the deity.
Photographs from the festival capture scenes of devotees smiling, smoking, and sharing cannabis, all under the watchful eye of hundreds of police officers, tasked primarily with ensuring security rather than preventing cannabis use during the festival.
Cannabis in Nepal’s History and Current Landscape
Nepal’s history with cannabis stretches back centuries. Prior to its criminalization in 1976, the country was a haven for cannabis enthusiasts, particularly during the hippie movement of the 1960s. Tourists from around the globe traveled to Kathmandu for its famed “weed trails,” cafes, and bazaars that freely sold hashish.
Although prohibitive laws put an end to this era, Shivaratri remains a powerful link to Nepal’s cannabis-rich past, acting as a reminder of the plant’s cultural, religious, and historical significance.
The festival also brings Nepal’s ongoing marijuana legalization debate into focus. Despite its historical ties to the plant, efforts to legalize marijuana farming and use in recent years have faced significant hurdles. Proponents argue that legalization could provide economic benefits, including boosting tourism and creating medical marijuana industries.
“Weed smoking should be made legal but with some limits and boundaries,” says Abhishek Pathak, a festival attendee who spoke to the AP in a recent article covering the festival. “There are multiple uses of marijuana, and I really hope in the future the use of marijuana will be totally legalized.”
Such voices grow louder each year, as activists and devotees alike highlight the potential for cannabis to foster not just spirituality, but economic and medical progress as well.
A Legal, Cultural, and Spiritual Spotlight on Cannabis
Shivaratri is more than a religious event; it shows the connection between tradition and modern changes in cannabis policy. Countries around the world are increasingly legalizing cannabis for medical or recreational use. Nepal’s Shivaratri festival highlights how deeply the plant roots itself in certain cultures, showing that cannabis transcends recreational or medical use to symbolize faith and heritage.
Festivals like Shivaratri not only preserve traditions but also encourage conversations about cannabis normalization. They highlight the fact that cannabis is more than a political or economic issue—it’s a cultural one.
Whether you’re a longtime advocate of cannabis or someone just learning about its significance, the Shivaratri festival offers a glimpse into one of the world’s most harmonious unions of faith, culture, and cannabis. Each puff of cannabis at the festival connects devotees not just with the divine, but with each other. It’s a collective celebration and reflection on what cannabis can signify when approached with respect, reverence, and understanding.
Cannabis is more than just a plant—it’s a bridge between people, cultures, and philosophies. As the chants of “Om Namah Shivaya” filled the night skies over Kathmandu this past Wednesday, you could imagine how attendees felt cannabis amplifies moments of peace, unity, and spirituality for those who cherish it.
