A heady dilemma?!

 

 

“Benaras is the city of Lord Shiva; this city has been one of the founts of Hindu consciousness for over many millennia. The faithful and the scholarly, all converge on this holy city seeking nirvana. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the oldest in the country, is dedicated to a form of Lord Shiva, who we all know as the bohemian and free-spirited God. The residents of Benaras, His descendents, are the proud bearers of the same legacy. People of Kashi (Benaras) believe in having fun, and I’m only talking of good-natured, harmless fun. Thandai is part of that. We believe it to be Lord Shiva’s prasad; the Lord Himself was supposed to be very fond of this drink, and consuming it is a way of expressing faith.

See, it is not to be an excuse to induce an intoxicating high; we all know the side effects of this drink. The watchword here is moderation. After all, anything in excess obviously has unwanted effects, don’t we all know that? People here believe in experiencing life to the hilt and not straitjacketing themselves with inflexible thought. Ask anyone who has consumed cannabis if the experience hasn’t added to his overall consciousness.

BRASS TACKS

thandai (or cannabis) drink is freely available all over benaras in shops and roadside stalls. popular with the locals and visitors alike, this drink is a particular favourite during the festival of holi

Visitors in Benaras are often amazed at the level and nature of original thought that transpires. You will find lively and informed discussions pertaining to world politics, economics, society and what-not in even the most obscure of tea shops. These stalls do serve cannabis too, but that’s not to be considered the real reason for such flow of ingenious thought. The real reason is the attitude of the city – open, warm and accepting. And it is this attitude that has contributed to removing any hang-ups about cannabis.

Thandai also brings the community together. Its preparation is almost like a social event, where people from diverse backgrounds come together and discover common ground while involved in the making of this heady concoction. However, the young generation has not taken to such liberties very well, and most have moved on to unsuitable hardcore drug use. As a result, even crime rates are increasing. Blind emulation of the west is also to blame for these changing moral values. I fervently hope that our unique culture doesn’t get irrevocably damaged because of pseudo - westernisation.”