As Holi approaches, various Indian states have begun celebrating the festival according to their unique traditions and cultures, Holi is celebrated in the Ghats of Varanasi as Masan Holi played with 'chita bhasm' from the burning pyre.
In Varanasi, Masan Holi is celebrated on Rangbhari Ekadashi which was on 3rd. March. It is believed that on this day Lord Shiva comes down to earth at Varanasi Ghat to play Holi with 'chita bhasm'. He sits on top of a burning funeral pyre, smeared in ashes with Bhringi, one among the Ganas of Lord Shiva, along with Chandesha, Mahakala, Vrishabha, whilst his followers plays holi with ashes from the pyre. There is a mention of this in Shiva Puran and in Skand Puran.
Shiva is known as "The Destroyer" within the Trimurti. The Hindu trinity Shiva as we know him today is a Rigvedic deity with fearsome powers. He is usually portrayed in accordance with the element he represents as a fierce, destructive deity. Shiva iconography shows his body covered with ashes (bhasma, vibhuti). The ashes represent a reminder that all of material existence is impermanent, comes to an end becoming ash, and the pursuit of eternal Self and spiritual liberation is important.
An unique local tradition of ‘masan mein chita bhasma Holi’ (playing Holi with pyre ash at cremation ground) Local devout gather on the night of Rangbhari Ekadashi at the Manikarnika Ghat and smeared each other with ash from burning pyres, a day after Rangbhari Ekadashi. Before playing with ash the devotees offer prayers at the temple of Mahashamashan Nath, the lord of cremation ground. They then smeared ash on each other while dancing to the tunes of folk song -- ‘Khele Masane mein Holi Digamber, khele masane mein Holi (Lord Shiva playing Holi at the cremation ground....)”.
This tradition is not just practiced by saints, seers, and sadhvis, people from all walks of life gather at the cremation site amid the blazing pyres to participate in this ancient ritual of celebrating death to achieve ‘moksha’, salvation.