The Masan Holi is played with colour mixed with ash from bodies burned at the cremation grounds of Varanasi 15th March.

Traditionally at Manikarnika Ghat, the 'mahashmashan' where Hindus cremate their dead, local people play Holi with ash on the next day of Rangbhari Ekadashi, a Banarasi tradition that is believed as old as the Ganga itself.

Ved prakash chaubey said
In UP, Holi is celebrated at Masan Ghat in Varanasi. First of all, Lord Shiva played Holi when he came to bid farewell to his wife Parvati, then at the same time where the cremation takes place, he played Holi with her ashes. Since then, Holi started playing every year at Masan Ghat. After Ekadashi Holi is celebrated on Dwadashi then on Panchami. In Kashi, this is our custom of Kashi.

Suchitra Shree said Holi festival is a big thing in this bhasma. Here Holi is played with dead bodies ashes and here all the gods and goddesses appear and wait for this day, then the gods and goddesses play possible Chauragarh Holi. Holi, which is held in Kashinath and for this very important saint Aghori, is very important and it is very important for us that the saintly saint Mahatma Devi Devta is present here today and among the sadhus, if we have found it too. Life is full for us. There is a lot of joy as much as the joy of Holi is great. Talking about it, it is very little for me. I am very happy that today I played Cheetah Holi in the city of Baba Kashi Vishwanath.

It happens only in Banaras, where death not considered something to fear as it means attaining 'moksha' (salvation).

After performing religious rituals, holy men present dance and music at a makeshift stage amid the burning pyres, in respect of the lord of the cremation ground.