Dhatura

Dhatura

धत्तूर, dhattūra or धतूरा, dhatūrā

Dhatura (Datura) is plant of the Solanaceae family.

As a hallucinogenic plant, dhatura has been used in folk medicine and witchcraft rituals since ancient times. In particular, the Aztecs put its seeds on altars, many Indian sorcerers used its narcotic effect for mass visions. According to some sources, in the Voodoo religion, datura was the main component in a magical drink used to turn a person into a zombie.

In India, dhatura fruits are used as an offering to Lord Shiva during Shivaratri and many other religious festivals.