Holi in Varanasi is unlike anywhere else in India. While the city celebrates traditional Holi with colors, music, and joy, it is especially famous for Masane Ki Holi, held at Manikarnika Ghat—the sacred cremation ground.
Here, devotees celebrate Holi with ashes instead of colors, symbolizing the truth of life and death and the philosophy that everything eventually merges with Shiva. This unique celebration reflects Varanasi’s deep spiritual understanding of mortality and liberation. Masane Ki Holi attracts thousands of devotees and photographers, making it one of the most distinctive festivals in India.