Kashi, Braj to unite as Rangbhari Ekadashi celebrations kick off

Varanasi: Rangbhari Ekadashi celebrations will kick off at Kashi Vishwanath Dham on Monday with a special ceremony sending traditional gulal to Shrikrishna Janamsthal, Mathura.Rangbhari Ekadashi on Feb 27 marks Goddess Parvati's ‘gauna' after marrying Lord Shiv on Mahashivratri. Kashi Vishwanath Dham starts Holi celebrations, applying gulal to Lord Vishwanath and along the procession route.
KVT's chief executive officer, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, said that after performing ‘Rudrabhishek' at the temple on Monday morning, the traditional gifts, especially gulal, will be sent to Shri Krishna Janmasthan, Mathura, to symbolise the cultural and spiritual unity of Kashi and Braj. The tradition of sending gifts to Kashi Vishwanath by prominent temples in India on the occasion of Mahashivratri, and from Kashi Vishwanath temple to others on their special occasions, started recently.With the completion of these rituals, several religious and cultural programmes will be organised until Feb 27, when a mega celebration will take place here by keeping the temple trust's Panchbadan idol of Lord Shiv, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesh installed near the idol of Lord Lakshmi Narayan in the temple premises.In Varanasi, Rangbhari Ekadashi is a colorful affair – literally! Residents smear kumkum and abeer on Shivlings across the city, and temples like Kashi Vishwanath Temple get flooded with hundreds of devotees.On Rangbhari Ekadashi, the gifts sent by Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi for Lord Vishwanath will be ceremoniously received in the morning. On this sacred occasion, traditional ‘Raas' and ‘Holi Rasiya' performances will be presented by Braj's Rasiyare artists at the cultural stage (Shivarchanam stage) located in the dham. As per tradition, the deity's mobile idol will arrive at the temple to be placed in the sanctum sanctorum. The day after Rangbhari Ekadashi is equally interesting — people play Holi at Manikarnika Ghat with colours, sandalwood powder, and even cremation ashes.