KATHMANDU, Nepal — On Wednesday, tens of thousands of Hindu devotees gathered in Nepal’s capital to celebrate one of the country’s largest religious festivals. The celebration took place in the sacred Bankali forests near Pashupati Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. During this festival known as Shivaratri, the use of cannabis, typically illegal, is temporarily permitted.
The temple, considered one of the most significant Hindu centers worldwide, became a hub of activity as devotees engaged in prayer and danced to religious songs. Hinduism is practiced by approximately 81% of Nepal’s population, and the festival also drew significant numbers from neighboring India, underscoring its importance.
A unique aspect of the Shivaratri festival is the allowance for marijuana consumption, normally punishable by up to a month in prison for users and up to ten years for traffickers. The forest area across the Bagmati River from the temple transformed into a campsite for holy men smoking cannabis, joined by young men and women participating in the age-old custom.
Among those partaking, Abhishek Pathak expressed hopes for the legalization of marijuana, advocating for responsible use with clearly defined limits. “There are multiple uses of marijuana and I really hope in the future that the use of marijuana will be totally legalized,” he said, emphasizing potential national benefits.
Efforts to decriminalize marijuana in Nepal have been ongoing, with a petition submitted in January 2020 to legalize its cultivation and use. However, progress has been sluggish. “Once marijuana is legalized in the country, there will be so many opportunities that it could open up like in medical use,” noted Akash Rimal, another festival attendee.
Nepal was renowned for its marijuana in the 1960s and early 1970s, drawing hippies to the Himalayan nation before marijuana was outlawed in 1976. Despite the ban, traditions persist, particularly during religious festivities. During the festival, hundreds of police officers were present but did not intervene to stop the cannabis use.
