Is it Legal for Me to Start a ‘Chill’ Retreat Where People Smoke Weed and Roam Naked as Part of a ‘Religious’ Experience?”

Community Forums Legal Advice India Is it Legal for Me to Start a ‘Chill’ Retreat Where People Smoke Weed and Roam Naked as Part of a ‘Religious’ Experience?”

Viewing 28 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #61425 Reply
      Vandanafalcon559
      Participant
        V
        Vandanafalcon559
        PARTICIPANT
        February 2, 2025 at 3:33 pm
        Yesterday, I was absolutely shocked to learn that Babas at the Kumbh Mela are openly smoking mariju@na and walking around n@ked, with the police completely turning a blind eye. Both of these activities are illegal under Indian lawโ€”marijuana consumption is banned, and public nudity is an offence under various provisions. But somehow, these Babas are allowed to do whatever they want because it’s all ‘religious freedom.’

        This got me thinking: Can I just exploit this loophole and set up my own ‘retreat,’ where people can gather to chill, smoke dope, and walk around naked, all under the guise of ‘spiritual’ practice? Could I claim that it’s part of a new form of religious expression? After all, if it’s okay for these Babas to get away with it, why shouldn’t I be able to do the same for my ‘followers’?

        I need advice on whether I can get away with this legally,

      • #61453 Reply
        User_fac09e3e
        Participant
          U
          User_fac09e3e
          PARTICIPANT
          February 2, 2025 at 3:42 pm
          Kuch toh crazzzzy socha hai bhaine

          • #61460 Reply
            User_b626d360
            Participant
              U
              User_b626d360
              PARTICIPANT
              February 2, 2025 at 5:19 pm
              *cwazzzy (samay raina’s voice)

          • #61452 Reply
            Navyabear944
            Participant
              N
              Navyabear944
              PARTICIPANT
              February 2, 2025 at 3:43 pm
              Are you rich and educated? Then the system will crack down on you.

              If you are poor and illiterate then no one will bat an eye

              • #61459 Reply
                User_28377908
                Participant
                  U
                  User_28377908
                  PARTICIPANT
                  February 2, 2025 at 4:36 pm
                  This is the stupid truth our side of the world runs by. Even so, if you’re above being rich and step into ultra rich, the rules change again, suddenly you’re immune!

                  I think in this case anything to do with religion that isn’t among the common ones or accepted ones can spark rage beyond comparison in today’s political climate.

                  On a side note, people in India love to prosecute others as long as it’s within their reach and the opponents are above them. However even that angst has a shelf life, see the started by TV reporters campaigns, they start strong but end fast (SSR for example).

              • #61451 Reply
                User_de2d62e0
                Participant
                  U
                  User_de2d62e0
                  PARTICIPANT
                  February 2, 2025 at 3:46 pm
                  Nope.

                  Those Babas are full time not part time. Can you prove that. Otherwise it will became transaction.

                  And also you need to prove existence of your religion and it’s need and origin. And every details.

                  Can you .

                  • #61458 Reply
                    Vandanafalcon559
                    Participant
                      V
                      Vandanafalcon559
                      OP
                      February 2, 2025 at 3:52 pm

                      >Those Babas are full time not part time. Can you prove that. Otherwise it will became transaction

                      if I dedicate myself full-time to this lifestyle, then it’s okay?

                      >And also you need to prove existence of your religion and it’s need and origin. And every details.

                      Also, who decides what counts as a โ€œrealโ€ religion? If I get enough people to believe in my retreatโ€™s philosophy, draft some texts, and declare it a spiritual path, does that make it legitimate?

                      • #61464 Reply
                        User_83dc8ad0
                        Participant
                          U
                          User_83dc8ad0
                          PARTICIPANT
                          February 2, 2025 at 3:59 pm
                          Judge k samne bolio fir dekhna. Chomu

                        • #61463 Reply
                          User_de2d62e0
                          Participant
                            U
                            User_de2d62e0
                            PARTICIPANT
                            February 2, 2025 at 3:59 pm
                            >if I dedicate myself full-time to this lifestyle, then it’s okay?

                            How will you afford yourself then.

                            >Also, who decides what counts as a โ€œrealโ€ religion? If I get enough people to believe in my retreatโ€™s philosophy, draft some texts, and declare it a spiritual path, does that make it legitimate?

                            Just to remind you that manuscript of religion is usually written by great writer of that era, even group of genious doens’t came close.

                            Now, text and manuscript of religion is followed by already practising culture. Those observation is then written down. Not vice versa.

                            And why GOI even consider accepting your religion. When people is asking for Sarda religion which has more religious grounds.

                            Actually you can….. But you can’t taste that fruit all you can sow the seed.

                            • #61465 Reply
                              Vandanafalcon559
                              Participant
                                V
                                Vandanafalcon559
                                OP
                                February 2, 2025 at 4:09 pm
                                >How will you afford yourself then.

                                So basically, if I can fund myself and make people believe in my philosophy, Iโ€™m halfway there? Sounds doable. Plenty of modern spiritual leaders and gurus manage just fine followers donate, retreats charge fees, books and merchandise sell, and before you know it, there’s a whole ecosystem sustaining the “belief system.”

                                >Just to remind you that manuscript of religion is usually written by great writer of that era, even group of genious doens’t came close.

                                >

                                >
                                Now, text and manuscript of religion is followed by already practising culture. Those observation is then written down. Not vice versa.

                                As for religious manuscripts, sure, many were written by great minds of their time. But letโ€™s not forget that those texts werenโ€™t divinely faxed from the sky they were interpretations of human experiences, written down *after* certain cultural practices became widespread. If I take an existing religionโ€™s texts, reinterpret them, and align my retreat with some “forgotten” spiritual tradition, who’s to say it’s not authentic? Itโ€™s been done beforeโ€”sects, reform movements, even entirely new branches of faith.

                                >And why GOI even consider accepting your religion. When people is asking for Sarda religion which has more religious grounds.

                                If enough people follow and demand it, history shows that governments eventually take note. After all, every major religion today started as a small movement before gaining recognition.

                            • #61462 Reply
                              User_99eca45c
                              Participant
                                U
                                User_99eca45c
                                PARTICIPANT
                                February 2, 2025 at 4:56 pm
                                >Also, who decides what counts as a โ€œrealโ€ religion? If I get enough people to believe in my retreatโ€™s philosophy, draft some texts, and declare it a spiritual path, does that make it legitimate?

                                The law does. So yes, first create your following or movement. Be prepared to get jailed as well. Because despite your armchair notions, there is a 90% chance you WILL get jailed for this.

                          • #61450 Reply
                            User_aa2af1e8
                            Participant
                              U
                              User_aa2af1e8
                              PARTICIPANT
                              February 2, 2025 at 3:46 pm
                              Is it true?

                            • #61449 Reply
                              User_666eb6c8
                              Participant
                                U
                                User_666eb6c8
                                PARTICIPANT
                                February 2, 2025 at 3:46 pm
                                You just need political connection

                                • #61457 Reply
                                  User_fdaff6a5
                                  Participant
                                    U
                                    User_fdaff6a5
                                    PARTICIPANT
                                    February 2, 2025 at 4:54 pm
                                    THIS

                                • #61448 Reply
                                  User_b03fd820
                                  Participant
                                    U
                                    User_b03fd820
                                    PARTICIPANT
                                    February 2, 2025 at 3:46 pm
                                    aree betichod yaa to tu kuch tagda krega , yaa chutad p dande khayega

                                    nothing in between

                                  • #61447 Reply
                                    User_fec89dda
                                    Participant
                                      U
                                      User_fec89dda
                                      PARTICIPANT
                                      February 2, 2025 at 3:48 pm
                                      Those babas are just dhongis and not actual Sanyasis. So you can try stooping down to their level but it may or may not end in favor of you.

                                    • #61446 Reply
                                      User_814d321d
                                      Participant
                                        U
                                        User_814d321d
                                        PARTICIPANT
                                        February 2, 2025 at 3:48 pm
                                        Public nudity in India is generally prohibited under various laws aimed at maintaining public decency and morality.
                                        Section 296 of the BNS 2023 – “Obscene Acts and Songs’

                                        Section 20 of the The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances – Prescribes the punishment for contravention related to cannabis piant and cannabis product.

                                        • #61456 Reply
                                          Vandanafalcon559
                                          Participant
                                            V
                                            Vandanafalcon559
                                            OP
                                            February 2, 2025 at 3:54 pm
                                            Yes, I’m aware of it. I explicitly mentioned in my post that these things are illegal, yet they are still not enforced in these religious gatherings, and the curiosity.

                                        • #61445 Reply
                                          User_d1a8cb3f
                                          Participant
                                            U
                                            User_d1a8cb3f
                                            PARTICIPANT
                                            February 2, 2025 at 3:52 pm
                                            Have you read about osho?

                                          • #61444 Reply
                                            Shirleythinker961
                                            Participant
                                              S
                                              Shirleythinker961
                                              PARTICIPANT
                                              February 2, 2025 at 3:54 pm
                                              No

                                            • #61443 Reply
                                              User_83dc8ad0
                                              Participant
                                                U
                                                User_83dc8ad0
                                                PARTICIPANT
                                                February 2, 2025 at 3:59 pm
                                                Nhi kar payega bhai, ganda phasega.

                                              • #61442 Reply
                                                Arjuntiger54
                                                Participant
                                                  A
                                                  Arjuntiger54
                                                  PARTICIPANT
                                                  February 2, 2025 at 3:59 pm
                                                  So you want to something like OSHO,
                                                  NOPE, if substance abuse is done of a large level you will be hunted, generally police don’t care about individuals like Babas and uneducated people because they know those guys will prefer to be inside jail rather than paying bribe, if you do something like that either you have to give heavy bribes or get behind bars

                                                • #61441 Reply
                                                  User_83dc8ad0
                                                  Participant
                                                    U
                                                    User_83dc8ad0
                                                    PARTICIPANT
                                                    February 2, 2025 at 4:00 pm
                                                    Such ideas come to your mind when u r high on ganja. Get well soon OP.

                                                  • #61440 Reply
                                                    Happymaster5148
                                                    Participant
                                                      H
                                                      Happymaster5148
                                                      PARTICIPANT
                                                      February 2, 2025 at 4:03 pm
                                                      Kal ya parso bhi aisa hi kuch post dekha tha. OP was it you only?

                                                    • #61439 Reply
                                                      Smartvandana710
                                                      Participant
                                                        S
                                                        Smartvandana710
                                                        PARTICIPANT
                                                        February 2, 2025 at 4:03 pm
                                                        There are retreats like that. There is one on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.

                                                        So yes, it can be done.

                                                        What will make it accceptable or not legally will be its credibility. If a court can be convinced that its a religious experience, then yes, it will be allowed. This is not easy. It can be done, in theory.

                                                      • #61438 Reply
                                                        Rapidwolf6504
                                                        Participant
                                                          R
                                                          Rapidwolf6504
                                                          PARTICIPANT
                                                          February 2, 2025 at 4:05 pm
                                                          Donโ€™t we already have this cult? Osho?

                                                        • #61437 Reply
                                                          User_7d4abac7
                                                          Participant
                                                            U
                                                            User_7d4abac7
                                                            PARTICIPANT
                                                            February 2, 2025 at 4:06 pm
                                                            India is a 3rd world poor country, laws here are not that strict.

                                                          • #61436 Reply
                                                            Soniaeagle333
                                                            Participant
                                                              S
                                                              Soniaeagle333
                                                              PARTICIPANT
                                                              February 2, 2025 at 4:12 pm
                                                              This human urge to Cherry pick things as per their convenience is what’s known as Hypocrisy.

                                                              Every country has their culture and things are allowed as per it.

                                                              These Naga Sadhus live without clothes completely Naked 365 days even in Himalayas. They are not hypocrites which are doing it for few days, it’s called a life style as per Dharam ( philosophy )

                                                              Yes you can get away with this legally, but you need to adhere to those lifestyle.

                                                            • #61435 Reply
                                                              Luckykaur5182
                                                              Participant
                                                                L
                                                                Luckykaur5182
                                                                PARTICIPANT
                                                                February 2, 2025 at 4:21 pm
                                                                If your customs predate the laws by 1000s of years, then you might have a chance.

                                                              • #61434 Reply
                                                                User_4fbd5a43
                                                                Participant
                                                                  U
                                                                  User_4fbd5a43
                                                                  PARTICIPANT
                                                                  February 2, 2025 at 4:35 pm
                                                                  r/StartupIndia

                                                                • #61433 Reply
                                                                  User_cca9ce5d
                                                                  Participant
                                                                    U
                                                                    User_cca9ce5d
                                                                    PARTICIPANT
                                                                    February 2, 2025 at 4:54 pm
                                                                    Nudity laws applies when they intent to cause offence and obscenity. They have given up on worldly desires and spend their lives in extreme conditions for tapasaya. If they act in an indecent way in public then they will be behind bars as well. Itโ€™s the intent that counts.

                                                                  • #61432 Reply
                                                                    Brightguy6133
                                                                    Participant
                                                                      B
                                                                      Brightguy6133
                                                                      PARTICIPANT
                                                                      February 2, 2025 at 4:54 pm
                                                                      This is not loophole, by definition babas have nothing to loose. Even if police beat up or put in jail they have already left so called moh maya of this sansar. So its not about nudity its about not caring about beyond that. You take that as it comes. So if you want to run a cult like Rajnish you need to be out of India where nudity is not crime, not in india or you need to be a baba who does not care of any moh and maya. Also there is a concept of nudity in non sexual way, though i find weird but people have exploited that as well.

                                                                      Also there was a generation that was very easy to fool, in other words, Rajeesh just had early mover advantage, now all those followers are following inherited by their fool ancestors and in india, something is enrouted from very childhood, you believe that blindly, else from outsider view, if any human claims to be god, you need to kick that from the mountain and if leaves he might be god and if he no, you get your answer.

                                                                      Worst part, parent even in this era pushing their kids to this cult and making them victim of sexually abuse.

                                                                    • #61431 Reply
                                                                      Shreyasguru115
                                                                      Participant
                                                                        S
                                                                        Shreyasguru115
                                                                        PARTICIPANT
                                                                        February 2, 2025 at 4:54 pm
                                                                        Why so much attention to an issue you see occasionally. There’s many rules a particular community follows within themselves which is equally as illegal in the eyes of law but they don’t give a fk because it’s written in their “holy book”

                                                                        Also these people’s lifestyle has existed before our law came to enforcement. It’s not something that’s hurting another individual who doesn’t wanna be a part of it like “kaafir treatment” or “sati”. It’s a cult a bunch of men are following and practicing within themselves and “whoever wants to be a part of”. What’s pissing your ass about that.

                                                                      • #61430 Reply
                                                                        Taraowl197
                                                                        Participant
                                                                          T
                                                                          Taraowl197
                                                                          PARTICIPANT
                                                                          February 2, 2025 at 5:11 pm
                                                                          Maybe you can hire those baba. You won’t have to worry about their pay and they got to smoke weed. Win win

                                                                        • #61429 Reply
                                                                          User_97c3f8a1
                                                                          Participant
                                                                            U
                                                                            User_97c3f8a1
                                                                            PARTICIPANT
                                                                            February 2, 2025 at 5:12 pm
                                                                            This is what Osho used to do many times

                                                                          • #61428 Reply
                                                                            User_bd2549df
                                                                            Participant
                                                                              U
                                                                              User_bd2549df
                                                                              PARTICIPANT
                                                                              February 2, 2025 at 5:14 pm
                                                                              Legal or not idgaf. Count me in.

                                                                            • #61427 Reply
                                                                              User_248c3515
                                                                              Participant
                                                                                U
                                                                                User_248c3515
                                                                                PARTICIPANT
                                                                                February 2, 2025 at 5:19 pm
                                                                                my own ‘retreat’

                                                                                You mean a cult? because without any ancient existence of your so called religion, it’ll be called a cult.

                                                                              • #61426 Reply
                                                                                User_1ba4e41e
                                                                                Participant
                                                                                  U
                                                                                  User_1ba4e41e
                                                                                  PARTICIPANT
                                                                                  February 3, 2025 at 2:55 am
                                                                                  Baba are not commercialising it, you will. Ga** tod dega police tumhari ๐Ÿ˜‚

                                                                              Viewing 28 reply threads
                                                                              Reply To: Reply #61444 in Is it Legal for Me to Start a ‘Chill’ Retreat Where People Smoke Weed and Roam Naked as Part of a ‘Religious’ Experience?”
                                                                              Your information:




                                                                              Cancel