Thousands light up Nepal in spiritual bhang smoking ritual
By AP, February 15, 2026Hindu holy men and mostly young devotees openly puffed on cannabis on Sunday, February 15, 2026, filling the air with smoke as they marked one of Nepal’s largest annual gatherings.
Tens of thousands of people lined up to pray at Pashupatinath, the temple of the Hindu god Shiva, in the capital, Kathmandu. The event drew both local worshippers and visitors from neighbouring India, eager to witness the spectacle.
Marijuana is generally banned in Nepal, but exceptions are traditionally made during this festival to honour Shiva, who is strongly associated with the plant and has often been depicted using it.
Across the Bagmati River, sadhus with their bodies smeared in ashes could be seen smoking, while many Nepali men and some women joined in the ritual on the forested Bankali Hills.
Devotees prayed, danced to religious songs, and engaged in meditation, creating a mix of spiritual fervour and smoke-filled celebration. For believers, smoking bhang is a sacred act meant to deepen their connection to Shiva and enhance spiritual reflection.
Outside the festival, marijuana remains illegal in Nepal, punishable by up to a month in prison for users and up to ten years for traffickers.
The country was once famous for its cannabis and other narcotics during the 1960s, when Western hippies flocked to the Himalayas. Tea houses and shops openly sold the drug before it was outlawed in 1976.
Since then, there have been repeated efforts to decriminalise or legalise cannabis, including proposals to permit its farming and ritual use.
Advocates argue it could support the economy and preserve cultural traditions, but progress has stalled amid regulatory and social concerns.
Despite the legal restrictions, the festival remains a vivid reminder of Nepal’s complex relationship with cannabis, blending centuries-old religious devotion with a history of tolerance, cultural symbolism, and modern legal controversy.
For thousands of participants, it is as much a spiritual experience as it is a communal celebration, and the clouds of smoke that rise over Kathmandu each year have become an unmistakable symbol of faith.