The Vibrant Shiv Baraat on Mahashivratri

Kashi’s Vibrant Shiv Baraat Procession

After taking a sacred dip at the confluence of three holy rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati - in Prayagraj, our 11-member group headed towards Kashi in two spacious, pre-booked Toyota Innova cabs.

Being just 122 km from Prayagraj, it usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Kashi. However, on that particular night, we were anticipating heavy traffic due to the influx of pilgrims from Maha Kumbh. To our relief, the roads were clearer than expected, which helped us reach Kashi within four to five hours , which was earlier than our expected time of arrival.

 26 February, 2025:

26th February was no ordinary day. It was Maha Shivaratri or “The Great Night of Shiva”, a festival that celebrates the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Every year, millions of devotees and tourists from across the globe visit Kashi to witness the festivities and soak in the essence of Shiva’s favourite abode.

On this night, a magnificent marriage procession known as the Shiv Baraat is paraded through the streets of Kashi, and as devout Shiva worshipers, we wished to be a part of this procession.

As our cabs neared Kashi, we realised that the Shiv Baraat procession had already begun, owing to which our cabs couldn’t drop us off at our pre-booked accommodation. So, we got off at a safe distance and meandered through the growing procession crowd towards The Commune, a quaint little hotel neatly tucked in one of Kashi’s busy streets. For the next few days, our diverse group of 11 people shared a comfortable, air-conditioned dormitory in this cozy hotel.

The Commune – Entrance and Terrace Area

Our host at The Commune was very warm and welcoming, which made us feel at home. The hotel’s main attraction was its balcony cum terrace, where we could chill and enjoy the view of Kashi’s busy streets.

Our initial view of the Shiv Baraat was from this balcony. Standing there, admiring the lively procession, we decided to join the night’s festivities at our host’s insistence.

The Commune’s Balcony cum Terrace

As we stepped out onto the jam-packed street, we found ourselves amid the Shiv Baraat. Devotees dressed as Lord Shiva, Devi Parvati, and other celestial figures created a visual tableau. Music, dance, and various traditional performances added to the lively atmosphere. Saffron-clothed sadhus and Naga saints also joined the procession. Small stalls offering bhang (an intoxicating Shiva prasad) to passersby were aplenty. The festive mood enticed us to indulge a little in bhang; after all, it was one of the main offerings made to Shiva on this divine night!

“People say you should experience the taste of

Kashi’s bhang at least once because it is not just a drink, it is Shiva’s prasad…

Or at least try thandai… I just loved it.”

~ Hemal Tolia

 After enjoying the festivities, we strolled back to the hotel, where we sang, shared life experiences, drank a little more bhang/ Thandai, and played Dumb Charades, a game that we all thoroughly enjoyed. As the night progressed, the intoxicating effects of bhang began to take hold, making the game even more engaging. Some of us began to enact movie names in comical ways, and the ones guessing the names came up with hilarious options. At a certain point, the bhang caused a few of us to lose focus, laugh without reason, and point toward the stars in awe. But the funniest of all was one particular lady who had gone completely silent, as though the sky would fall off if a single syllable slipped out of her mouth. All of it, put together, looked quite comical, especially to those who hadn’t consumed a drop of bhang.

Finally, exhausted from the day’s events, we went to sleep, blissfully intoxicated - partly with the joy of spending time with like-minded people and partly due to the bhang.

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