Biz boom amid Covid gloom as bhang shops see queues

Prayagraj: Among the businesses hit by novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, there is one which managed to stay afloat thanks to the devotion of devotees of Lord Shiva.
The lull in markets notwithstanding, licensed shops selling ‘bhaang’ are cashing in on the ‘Shrawan’ boom as devotees of Lord Shiva are lining up at these stores to buy (cannabis). In Hindu mythology, bhaang is offered to Lord Shiva as a prasad (offering).
According to excise department officials, the city has witnessed a multi-fold increase in the sale of bhaang during Shrawan. The demands from licensed bhaang sellers for increased supply indicates to the surge in demand.
“There are 121 licensed cannabis sellers in the city and their monthly quota differs from shop to shop. Annually, we provide 25,000kg bhaang to these 121 sellers, which is around 2,000kg per month. The sellers can request for more, if the demand exceeds their monthly quota,” said district excise officer Sandeep Bihari Modwell.
Sources said that sellers’ sold their monthly quota of bhaang in a first fortnight during Shrawan.
Even though ‘kanwar yatras’ have been cancelled this year due to the pandemic, devotees of Lord Shiva are filled with enthusiasm. They are offering ‘bhaang’ to the deity and are then consuming the ‘bhog’ of cannabis as ‘prasad’.
The excise department officials admit that demand for bhaang this month has increased by up to 20%.
Sanjeev, a licensed bhaang seller in Muttiganj locality, said, “On normal days, especially during the lockdown, the sale of cannabis was much lower. I was even struggling to sell our monthly quota. However, during Shrawan this year I sold my monthly quota in just two weeks and people are still demanding it.”
Modwell said, “The surge in demand has also generated more revenue. From the 121 licensed cannabis shops in the district, Rs 43 lakh revenue was generated this month.”