The sacred ghats of Varanasi erupted in a haze of holy ash on Rangbhari Ekadashi, heralding Holi with an otherworldly flair. Harishchandra Ghat hosted the Masaan Holi, where devotees reveled using cremation remnants, defying norms in pure ecstatic worship.
Chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ reverberated as crowds smeared vibhuti, the air heavy with incense and sandalwood. From atop funeral stacks, ash was harvested like festival colors, uniting strangers in Shiva bhakti.
A devotee from Delhi captured the allure: ‘This is the real Holi—raw, real, revelatory.’ The ritual, legendarily kicked off by Shiva, draws ascetics and householders alike to Manikarnika Ghat tomorrow for the crescendo.
Preceded by temple invitations via Panchakoshi yatra, the event underscores Avadh’s Holi dawn. Mother’s palanquin procession adds majesty, symbolizing life’s dance through death’s door.
Generations have preserved this, evolving from sadhu-exclusive to universal. Amid damru rhythms and pyre glows, participants find liberation. Varanasi’s Rangbhari Ekadashi proves faith’s power to color even the gravest realities with divine joy.