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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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India=Theyll celebrate Holi with a bhang? Haima Deshpande Mumbai Newsline Tuesday 18 Mar 2003 Mumbai, March 17: A pony-tailed Sardarji drives into the Mahalaxmi temple lane in a Maruti Gypsy. "Bhang milega kya?" he asks a man in the parking lot. He is immediately guided to the right stall. At the Mumbadevi temple, 35 framed photographs of various gods hang in the background. Seated in front of a brass trishul alongside a huge Shivaling, a man grinds bhang leaves. "Jaldi karna bhai,"shouts a uniformed policeman. The man looks up with glazed eyes at the queue waiting to purchase bhang golas. Immortalised by Bollywood as an exclusive Holi must-have, bhang - a herbal preparation - is described variously by uniformly gushing users. It's a stimulant "that awakens cosmic consciousness, arouses the senses and fills the mind with a feeling of tranquility". It is also "Shivji's prasad". You'll actually hallucinate after even a pea-sized bit, but they won't tell you that. From the sadhus waiting at winding road approaching the 600-year-old Bhuleshwar Temple to the paan-chewing Bhaiyyas barking out orders to expedite sales, the consumers are all satisfied. At Bhuleshwar, a muscleman prepares to tackle any untoward incidents. The marketing guy is a teenaged boy seated in front of a framed photograph of Shiva, watched keenly by chief operator Kamalseth. Bought it? Now say 'Om Namah Shivay' and leave. At the Mumbadevi Temple, it's the same scene. Even constables on duty will offer directions to the bhang shop. "Bhang grows in the jungles of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It costs about Rs 20 for a kilogramme there, whereas in Maharashtra it touches Rs 1,000 for the same amount. It's available throughout the year, but buyers mostly come in during Shivratri and Holi," says U R Upadhyaya, whose batata wada stall next to the Pitali Hanuman Mandir has been selling bhang for 70 years. It's illegal, but 'unofficial' police permission is granted for sales during Shivratri. But not for Holi, says Kamalseth. A bhang user for 20 years, there are no side effects, he says. "It is better than liquor, increases your concentration, your appetite and spirituality. It is called 'Vijaya' in Sanskrit and 'Siddhi' in Bengali," says Kamalseth. But a word of caution - no non-vegetarian food after bhang, please. There's more: An 1893-94 report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission said, "To meet someone carrying bhang is a sure omen of success. To see in a dream the leaves, plant or water of bhang is lucky, it brings the goddess of wealth into the dreamer's power... so grand a result, so tiny a sin!"
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