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Ashes Replace Colors in Unique Holi Ritual
2 Mar
Summary
- Devotees smear each other with ashes from temple yagnas.
- The ritual is inspired by the Bhasma Holi of Ujjain.
- This tradition promotes natural celebration over chemical colors.
Two days before the country celebrates Holi, a unique Bhasma Holi ritual is being observed in Uttarkashi. Devotees gather at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to smear each other with sacred ashes instead of traditional colors, a practice that has steadily grown in popularity over the past decade.
The observance involves ashes collected from numerous yagnas conducted at the temple throughout the year. After the morning aarti, these ashes are offered to the deity and then used in the Bhasma Holi ritual. Inspired by a similar celebration at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, this tradition aims to preserve and promote Shaivite customs.
Mahant Ajay Puri initiated the ritual, marking it as a way to connect with traditional Holi practices. He highlighted the benefits of using natural ashes from yagnas, emphasizing that they are harmless to the skin, unlike the chemical colors often used during Holi celebrations. Many devotees also take these ashes home as prasad.
