Holi, colorful Ekadashi celebrations with cheetah ashes played at Kashi Mahasmashan

- Holi begins with the colorful Ekadashi in the religious city of Kashi

New delhi date. Thursday, March 25, 2021

The Holi festival will be celebrated on March 29, but it starts with a colorful Ekadashi in the religious city of Kashi. The people of Kashi start this festival just before Holi with their favorite Bhole Baba by playing with the ashes of the cheetah at the Mahasmashan. Then Holi begins in Kashi.

The cheetah's fire never cools down on Harishchandra Ghat, the Mahasmashan of Mokshadayi's Kashi Nagar. Leopards revolt and funerals continue for 24 hours. Amidst the widespread mourning, there comes a day when Holi is celebrated at the Mahasmashan. It is also Holi played with cheetah ashes in addition to colors.

There is an ancient belief behind the special Holi played at the Mahasmashan during the colorful Ekadashi. It is said that when Lord Vishwanath first reached Kashi with Parvati on the colorful Ekadashi day, he was playing Holi with his gang. But he could not play Holi with ghosts, phantoms, vampires and Aghori living in his favorite cemetery. This is why on the colorful Ekadashi day, Vishwanath comes to the Mahasmashan to play Holi with him.