You Might Want To Explore This Secret 30 Yr-Old ‘Sarkari’ Bhang Shop In Noida

by Tonakshi Kalra
You Might Want To Explore This Secret 30 Yr-Old ‘Sarkari’ Bhang Shop In Noida

As the month of March approaches, everyone waits for the most fun festival of the year, Holi. This is one festival when we’re allowed to let loose, quite literally. Water balloons, loads of colors and ghujia are back again but there’s one more thing that has become like a ritual in many families in India i.e. drinking bhang. Yes, bhang is cannabis and cannabis is illegal. But if you live in Noida, you can just ‘score’ some from a government-approved bhang shop in Sector 15!

Image credits: Tathagata Sen

What Is It

Theka Bhang’ is one of the few government-licensed bhang shops in the country that is believed to come to the rescue of many people on Holi. Located in Noida, Theka Bhang has been open seven days a week for about 30 years now.

Holi is the one day of the year in which cannabis becomes socially acceptable in India. Bhang is made with a ground and cooked mash of cannabis leaves and flowers. This is usually mixed into thandai, a sweet milk with lots of crushed cashews and almonds, peppercorn and cardamom, and different seeds.

Also read: 5 Best Places For Holi Celebrations In India

Image credits: Dope Magazine

Health Benefits

Not many people know that bhang has some health benefits too, obviously if not taken in excess. It helps improve metabolism, helps patients of depression and is a great stimulant that helps to loosen up in general. Plus, bhang is completely natural and devoid of any added chemicals. There are no long-term side effects of bhang.

Also read: Black Jalebis In Old Delhi

Now you must be thinking that why do they open this shop all year long, right? So the owner of this shop, Sukhpal Singh was reported as saying, “We have had a steady footfall of about 30-odd people every day since the very beginning. It’s the same few dedicated customers. The number of customers does go up during Shivratri and Holi, but only marginally when people tend to buy bhang in bulk.” Even many ayurvedic doctors are their regular customers.

Talking about its cost, the bhang golis come at 5 to 10 bucks a piece. Yes, it’s that cheap!

Important Part Of Celebration 

The shop owner doesn’t promote it much as he says that many Noida people already know about his shop and buy bhang from him only. During Holi, the demand goes up. Not only regular families, but they also supposedly get large orders from multinational corporations holding big events for their staff. The shop also believed to supply to politicians.

Also read: Best Sweet Shops In Delhi That Will Cure The Pain In Every Sweet Tooth 

Image credits: Agoda

For many Indian families today, bhang is also an important part of their celebration. They believe that it makes their celebrations more enjoyable. Whatever mood you’re in, that’s the mood you’ll continue in. Like if you’re laughing, you’ll keep laughing. If you’re crying, maybe you remembered something sad, you’ll keep crying. You don’t know what you’re doing. The thing with wine and alcohol is that you’re still conscious but not with bhang. And it lasts for 24 hours.

So if you live around Noida and Greater Noida and you didn’t know about this shop yet, then it’s time to get high with your friends and family this Holi. But be careful, excess of anything is bad and we’re sure you don’t want a bad trip, right?

Deets:

Address: C-149, Naya Bans, C Block, Sector 15, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

Timings: 8 am to 10:30 pm