Holi Celebration With Ashes Instead Of Gulaal At Varanasi's Manikarnika Ghat, Know About Masan Holi

People in Varanasi gathered at Manikarnika Ghat to celebrate Masan Holi. In this practise, Holi is celebrated by Shiva devotees using pyre ashes. Know all about it.

People playing Masan Holi at Manikarnika Ghat in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi ( Image Source :Twitter | @ANI )

With Holi around the corner, Indian states have started the celebrations as per their unique traditions. A large group of people gathered in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi at the Manikarnika Ghat on Saturday to play Holi with ashes. This tradition of playing with ashes from the pyre on the famous Manikarnika ghat is called 'Masan Holi'.

News agency ANI posted a short clip from the Manikarnika ghat where Masan Holi was being played.

UP: Holi celebration with ash at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi (04/03) pic.twitter.com/biCKeZu3gF

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 5, 2023

In the short 16-second clip, countless people can be seen swaying their bodies to the tune of Bhajans while they play Masan Holi at the Ghat while the echos of Damrus and chants of 'Bhole' which is a commonly used name for Lord Shiva, can be heard in the background.

Masan Holi

On the ghats, Holi is celebrated by Shiva devotees using pyre ashes. Shiva devotees offer ashes to Lord Shiva and do puja in the Masan Nath temple at the Manikarnika Ghat while listening to the echo of Damru. Then, everyone participates in Holi celebrated with ashes instead of gulaal.

Thousands of people can be seen swarming the ghats and dancing to the music in the videos of Masan Holi that are doing rounds on social media. Some of them are covered in colours.

Story Of Masan Holi

Ash, also known as "bhasma," is believed to be very dear to Lord Shiva. According to legend, Lord Shiva visits Manikarnika Ghat on the second day of Rangbharni Ekadashi with all of his "ganas" (his army, which includes Nandi Bael and others) to bless the devotees and play Holi with Bhasma in the shape of Gulal Swarup.

Many hold the view that Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva played Holi with all the other gods and goddesses on the day of Rangbharni Ekadashi after they were wedded. Due to the absence of Lord Shiva's favoured ghosts, vampires, nocturnal and invisible forces li this festival, Lord Shiva returns to Masan Ghat the next day to play Holi with them.