Shiva Ratri

Shiva Ratri literally means ‘ the night consecrated to Shiva’- the great night of Lord Shiva that falls on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in the month of Falgun (between February/March), which is one of the major festivals of Nepal. It is observed in honour of Lord Shiva’s day of birth. Shiva is also known as Mahadev. Shiva the Destroyer of Evil and Lord Shiva is the most worshipped in all of the gods the Hindu religion.

On this day, Pilgrim and Yogis (holy man) visit the Shiva Temple. People fast throughout the day, on this holy day. Worshippers take a holy bath and go to the temple to worship.

On this day, devotee or non-devotees are free to use the intoxicating substances like marijuana, ganja, and bhang, and is only the day legal to take marijuana according to Nepali calendar. People mixed ganja in various foods like vegetables, make syrup, mixed in eatable food on this day, and they feed to anyone without notice. People take ganja as a holy Prasad from God Shiva.

Crowds of people can be seen wandering around Shiva temple and sadhus and non – shades can be seen smoking around the temple.