As Varanasi awakens to Basant Panchami, the spotlight falls on the Tilak Utsav at Kashi Vishwanath Temple, where a tilak adorns Baba Shiva’s brow, formally launching the divine wedding season. This ritual, far more than Saraswati veneration or spring welcome, embodies Kashi’s timeless devotion to Shiva-Parvati’s union.
Elaborate decorations bedeck the sanctum, while bhajans and conch shells amplify the devotional fervor. Post-tilak, the city gears up for Maha Shivratri on February 15—a Sunday Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi. The peak Nishita Kaal midnight rituals draw endless streams of faithful to temples including Gauri Kedareshwara, Tilbhandeshwar, Siddheshwar Mahadev, and more, all aglow with lamps and fervor.
The narrative progresses to Rangbhari Ekadashi on February 27, Friday, Phalgun Shukla Paksha. Here, Parvati’s gauna ceremony symbolizes her journey with Shiva back to Kashi, kickstarting Holi with masaan festivities and vibrant rangs. Devotees throng the temples, applying abeer-bukka, recreating myths where Shiva and his ganas ignite the festival of colors at sacred grounds.
These interconnected celebrations weave a rich cultural mosaic, preserving Kashi’s spiritual legacy. They offer a profound spiritual retreat, fostering unity and joy amid the rhythmic pulse of ancient rites.