Varanasi: The day after the Rangbhari Ekadashi festival, ‘mahashamshanaHundreds of devotees were seen playing the traditional ‘Mason Mein Chita Bhasma Holi’ at Manikarnika Ghat (the great cremation ground) in the city. Holi With the ashes of the pyre at the cremation ground) on Tuesday.
Maintaining the unique local tradition of ‘Chita Bhasma’ Holi festival, a day after Rangbhari Ekadashi, local devotees started gathering at Manikarnika Ghat early in the morning. Devotees join each other in the festivities in the form of ‘gulal’ amidst the ashes of the pyre and the burning pyre, with special prayers at the temple of the lord of the cremation ground, Mahashamshan Nath.
Amid burning pyres the revellers danced to the tunes of folk song – ‘Khele masane mein Holi Digamber, khele masane mein Holi’ (Lord Shiv Playing Holi at the cremation ground….)
An organizer said that celebrating death with the hope of attaining moksha (salvation) is an age-old tradition of the city. Local priests said, “The tradition dates back to time immemorial and is also referenced in the Skanda Purana and ancient texts.”
Mythologically, Lord Shiva celebrates Holi with his devotees at Kashi Vishwanath temple after coming here with Goddess Parvati on Rangbhari Ekadashi.
event Organiser Gulshan Kapoor Said, “Since the supernatural ‘ganas (followers) of Lord Shiva do not get a chance to play colors with him on Rangbhari Ekadashi, the Lord himself comes to the cremation ground to play Holi with ashes with them the next day.”
Maintaining the unique local tradition of ‘Chita Bhasma’ Holi festival, a day after Rangbhari Ekadashi, local devotees started gathering at Manikarnika Ghat early in the morning. Devotees join each other in the festivities in the form of ‘gulal’ amidst the ashes of the pyre and the burning pyre, with special prayers at the temple of the lord of the cremation ground, Mahashamshan Nath.
Amid burning pyres the revellers danced to the tunes of folk song – ‘Khele masane mein Holi Digamber, khele masane mein Holi’ (Lord Shiv Playing Holi at the cremation ground….)
An organizer said that celebrating death with the hope of attaining moksha (salvation) is an age-old tradition of the city. Local priests said, “The tradition dates back to time immemorial and is also referenced in the Skanda Purana and ancient texts.”
Mythologically, Lord Shiva celebrates Holi with his devotees at Kashi Vishwanath temple after coming here with Goddess Parvati on Rangbhari Ekadashi.
event Organiser Gulshan Kapoor Said, “Since the supernatural ‘ganas (followers) of Lord Shiva do not get a chance to play colors with him on Rangbhari Ekadashi, the Lord himself comes to the cremation ground to play Holi with ashes with them the next day.”