14. The "sadhus" mark the festival by praying, meditating, smoking some form of cannabis, and smearing their bodies with ash. A sadhu smokes marijuana on a chillum (pipe) at the Pashupatinath Temple during Shivaratri.

Why does sadhu smoke?

Sadhus smoke in order to calm their minds for meditation and in to get into the state of mind that Shiva is said to always be in. Especially on Shivaratri — Shiva's birthday — Cannabis is consumed in copious amounts, and by laypeople as well.

What is Charas called in English?

चरस (carasa) - Meaning in English

Charas is a cannabis concentrate made from the resin of a live cannabis plant and is handmade in the Indian subcontinent and Jamaica. ... The difference between charas and hashish is that hashish is made from a dead cannabis plant and charas is made from a live one.