Maha Shivaratri festival in Pashupatinath Temple starts with a smoke

01/05

Caption

Sadhu (Yogi) is allegedly smoking ganja (marijuana) from Naukri,Uttarakhand, India to celebrate the Maha Shivaratri festival in Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu.

02/05

Caption

Sadhu (yogi)is giving a pose to photographers who came to Pashupatinath Temple to attend Maha Shivaratri.

03/05

Caption

A young Naga sadhu (yogi) is in Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal. He came from Panjab, India among others from different places to perform a puja and celebrate Maha Shivaratri. He is 15 year old Sadhu as he says.

04/05

Caption

Sadhu (Yogi) is allegedly smoking ganja (marijuana) in a chilm in Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal. Marijuana is taken as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods. He came from Punjab, India to perform a puja and celebrate Maha Shivaratri.

05/05

Caption

Baba (Yogi) in Vibhuti. Vibhuti is ashes of the sacred fire. Vibhuti is usually taken from the Sadhu's own sacred fire. This baba lives in Ram Mandir, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu.

Report current story

Thousands of Sadhu (Yogi), Naga Sadhu (Naked Yogi) and Hindu pilgrims are attending the Maha Shivaratri festival in Pashupatinath.

Thousands of Sadhu (Yogi), Naga Sadhu (Naked Yogi) and Hindu pilgrims are attending the Maha Shivaratri festival in Pashupatinath on March 10th, 2013.

Maha shivaratri, the night of the worship of Lord Shiva is celebrated on the 13th/ 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Falgun as per Hindu calendar every year. It is believed that this is the day when Lord Shiva transformed and appeared as the Shivalinga. Maha Shivaratri has been celebrated by fasting and being awake all night. Hindus perform puja of Shiva all through the night in the Pashupati temple and others Shiva Temple.

Sadhus in pictures are smoking ganja (marijuana) in honor of Shiva during Shivaratri. Thus marijuana is taken as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods.