Indian subcontinent in
Kolkata, India Charas has been used across the
Indian subcontinent for medicinal and religious purposes for thousands of years, and was sold in government shops (along with
opium) during the times of the
British India and in independent
India until the 1980s when sale and consumption of Cannabis was made illegal in the subcontinent. Charas plays an important and often integral role in the
culture and
ritual of certain sects of the
Hindu religion, especially among the
Shaivas — who focus on the Shaivite traditions (in contrast to
Vaishnavs who focus on Vaishnavite traditions) —and it is venerated by some as being one of the aspects of Lord Shiva. Despite this long history, charas was made illegal in India under pressure from the
United States in 1985 and cultivation and
trafficking of charas was prohibited by the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. Charas remains popular in the subcontinent and is often used by Indian
sadhus for religious purposes. The
Naga Sadhus,
Aghoris and
Tantric Bhairava sects smoke it freely as an integral part of their religious practice. It is freely available in several places around India especially where there is a strong affluence of tourists. Although charas can be found in several places around India, its manufacturing can be traced only to specific locations in India such as,
Parvati Valley, (
Kasol, Rasol,
Malana ("Malana cream"),
Kashmir as well as several other places in northern India. There is also a large amount of charas that is illegally exported across to
Europe. ==Cultivation and manufacture==