In Varanasi, Holi takes on a deeply spiritual dimension with the celebration of Masan Holi — a unique tradition where joy, devotion, and the mysteries of life and death intertwine.
Celebrated the day after Rangbhari Ekadashi, Masan Holi is observed at Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, the city’s sacred cremation grounds.
Unlike the colorful Holi celebrated elsewhere, here, devotees play Holi with ashes from cremation pyres instead of traditional colors.
Known as Bhasma Holi, this ritual is intimately tied to Lord Shiva, who, according to legend, plays Holi with his devotees — the Ganas, spirits, and celestial beings.
The ash symbolizes both purification and the acceptance of life’s impermanence.
Amidst the chants of “Har Har Mahadev,” drumming, and spirited dancing, devotees celebrate the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth, embracing the divine with fearless devotion.
Masan Holi is not merely a festival — it’s a profound spiritual experience unique to Banaras, where the veil between the mortal and the divine seems to lift for a moment of transcendental joy.
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