Kashi set to play ‘Masane ki Holi’ tomorrow

VARANASI: The famed cremation grounds of the city of salvation – Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats – will witness celebration of ‘chita bhasm ki Holi', played with the ashes of funeral pyre, by Naga Sadhus and ‘aghoris'.
The event will take place at Harishchandra Ghat on the day of Rangabhari Ekadashi on Monday and at Manikarnika Ghat on Tuesday.
Organisers of this celebration, also known as ‘Masane (cremation ground) ki Holi', who are busy finalising the preparations, condemned the bid of some groups trying to generate controversy by claiming that it is not for ‘grihastha' (householder) to observe the festivity.
On Mar 4, the organiser of Manikarnika Mahashamshan and manager of the Baba Mahashamshan Nath Temple, Gulshan Kapoor, announced the date and timing of celebration.
All traditional events, including special prayers and Chita Bhasm Aarti, will take place with the participation of the Domraja family.
Countering opposition from social and spiritual organisations, Aghorpeeth Harishchandra Ghat Kashi's head, Avadhoot Ugra Chandeshwar Kapali, alias Kapali Baba, on Sunday said, "Masane Ki Holi holds a special place in the religious traditions of Kashi. For nearly four decades, I have been observing this tradition alongside respected Naga ascetics, practitioners of the Aghor tradition, saints from other ascetic traditions, and the transgender community."
"Lord Shiva's abode is beyond all restrictions and prohibitions as the entire Kashi is a great cremation ground, created from the blissful essence of Lord Shiva, hence it is also called ‘Anandvan'. It is regarded as an inviolable area, resting on the trident of Lord Shiva, and does not adhere to ordinary rules," said Aghori Baba.
"Kashi is a city of celebrations, where even death is celebrated. After every Magh Mela, ascetics play Masane Ki Holi to appease Lord Shiva," he added.
"Each religious city has its unique traditions, like the Lathmar Holi of Barsana, the Laddu Holi of Braj, Phoolon ki Holi of Shrinathji and the special Mewari Holi of Eklingji, and the tradition should be viewed according to local beliefs," Kapali Baba said.
"The main adornment of Lord Shiva, the destroyer of evil, is cremation ashes. Therefore, calling Masane Ki Holi in the great cremation ground of Kashi an irreligious act or an antisocial event is condemnable," said Kapali Baba.
He mentioned that by making it clear that no one will come in make-up or appearance of any deity, and no one will come in an inebriated state or consuming intoxicants and Chita Bhasm ki Holi will be played to the tune of famous chants like ‘Khele Masane mein Holi Digamber..." (Lord Shiva plays Holi at the cremation ground) at Manikarnika Ghat on Tuesday.
‘Against tradition, no mention of it in Shastra'
Ahead of ‘Masane ki Holi', a few organisations and scholars have opposed the practice terming it to be against the tradition of Kashi.
On Mar 5, a newly formed organisation, Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Trust, convened a seminar at Assi Ghat and opposed ‘Chita Bhasm ki Holi' by terming it unorthodox and in violation of the traditional sanctity of the Kashi pilgrimage.
General secretary of Kashi Vidvat Parishad, a body of Sanskrit and Vedic scholars, Ramnarayan Dwivedi, and former heads of the astrology department at the Banaras Hindu University, Vinay Pandey and Chandramouli Upadhyay, added to the refrain, saying there was no mention of such Holi in ‘shastra' (religious text). They remarked that today's youth, influenced by social media reels and videos, consider such events as tradition, even though it was wrong.
The trust's president, Santosh Singh, urged the scholars to intervene to protect the sanctity and glory of Kashi, being tarnished by some misguided individuals who gather youth to indulge in intoxication and chaos under the guise of ‘Masane ki Holi'.
Chief of the Sanatan Dal Rakshak, Ajay Sharma, claimed that since 2013, this unrighteous act had been taking place in the name of religion and demanded its immediate cessation.