Kashi comes alive with ecstatic colors on Rangbhari Ekadashi, the prelude to Holi that honors Shiva’s arrival with Parvati. Observed on Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi, this event symbolizes the god’s journey to bring his bride from her maayka, a custom cherished for centuries.
Chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Namah Parvati Pataye’ reverberate as the faithful hurl abir, gulal, and petals in homage. Kashi stands apart, igniting Holi celebrations early upon divine approval, while the world elsewhere merely prepares.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple orchestrates a splendid dola procession, parading the deities amid cheering crowds and splashing colors. With barricades in place and darshan protocols adjusted, safety remains paramount, notes chief officer Vish Bhushan Mishra. This edition promises a treat: Braj’s rasiya performers from Mathura flock to Kashi, staging vibrant rasa amid the festivities.
Resident Prabhunath Tripathi explains how locals revel with the deities, smearing colors and begging to commence Holi. Shiva’s guided tour of Parvati’s new home adds a personal touch. Spiritually, the day’s puja is revered for bestowing ideal spouses and easing troubles. Ornate temples and illuminated streets amplify the divine merriment enveloping Varanasi.