Holi 2025: Why Do People Consume Bhang On Holi? Know Religious Significance, Antidote For Overdose, & More!

Holi 2025: Holi 2025 is here and one thing which is related to one of the grandest festivals in India is Bhang, which has been the integral part of the festival for ages. Holi, which is considered to be festival of colors, falls on the purnima tithi on Phalguna of the vedic calendar. This year, Holi fell on March 14, 2025, and the people across the country has had the fun with utmost grandeur and a lot of pomp decking up in white attire and smearing colors all over on each other. And not to mention, the ardent Holi lovers' celebration is incomplete without bhang, which makes the fun even more intense.

Bhang or thandai is usually made with milk coupled with dry fruit paste, sweets, spices, and a paste made from the leaves and flowers from the female cannabis plant.

Why Do People Have Bhang On Holi?

Bhang is considered to be the favorite drink of Lord Shiva and people usually consume bhang for the euphoric effect that increases the enjoyment of the festival. It is mostly consumed as bhang lassi, other than that, people consume it as a sweetened goli too mixed with cannabis and water.

Bhang Benefits & Side Effects

In ayurveda, bhang is considered to have cured the physical ailments like pain and inflammation, and mental ailments like anxiety, depression, stress, among others.

However, there can be multiple side effects of having bhang, especially when it is overdosed. Some of the side effects include dry mouth, change in mood, increase heart rates, dizziness, vomitting, paranoia, hallucinations, panic attacks, etc.

How To Recover Quickly After Having Bhang?

If you do not like the feeling, you can quickly consume coconut water, lemon water, and water consisting of electrolytes. You can also drink water that will help in diluting the effect of bhang and have some snacks or light food that can minimize the effect of bhang.