Be it filmi parties or your own Holi bash in the building compound, people are getting high on bhaang. The traditional cannabis beverage, made of the leaves and flowers of the plant, is traced to the Mughal era where drawings often showed kings of the period using it as an intoxicant. While hermits have counted on bhaang for their spiritual flourish,age-old ayurveda has also used cannabis to cure sunstroke and dysentery. Indian chefs have tried various bhaang innovations— chutney, pakora and lassi. Bhaang Thandai has been made popular by mixing it with paste of almonds, some spices, milk and sugar.

Maria Goretti :A few years ago my husband and I hosted a Holi party. My cook sourced all the ingredients and made bhaang pakoras. We had such a blast, guests had to leave in my pyjamas.

Kiaho Chindhy: Last year I had three bhaang laddoos and went on a laughter trip instantly — it was my first experience. I danced uncontrollably, till my friends literally had to haul me home. I remember having crashed into bed for 15 hours.

VJ Gaurav: Two years ago, I went for a Holi party at my freinds house and he offered me prasad. It looked like gulkand and I took a generous scoop. Ten minutes later I knew something wasn’t right. When I got home, I thought my fan was moving faster than it ever did. In fact, the whole ceiling was moving and when I got up to switch off the fan, I saw that it wasn’t even on.

DJ Anish: The way you react after consuming bhaang depends on your state of mind. After consuming bhaang last year, I firmly believed I was the happiest man alive and that nothing wrong could ever happen to me. I laughed till wee hours of the morning.