The Dark Night, Burning Pyres, and Anklet Echoes: Why Do Courtesans Dance at Kashi's Mahashamshan? Unravel the Mystery
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Mystery of Kashi's Mahashmashan: Why Courtesans Dance Amidst Burning Pyres
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News18•23-03-2026, 12:16
Mystery of Kashi's Mahashmashan: Why Courtesans Dance Amidst Burning Pyres
•Kashi's Mahashmashan Manikarnika Ghat hosts a unique tradition where courtesans dance amidst burning pyres.
•This annual event occurs on Chaitra Shukla Paksha Saptami, coinciding with Baba Mahashmashan Nath's adornment.
•The tradition began centuries ago when King Man Singh renovated the temple; courtesans offered to dance after other artists refused to perform at the cremation ground.
•Temple manager Gulshan Kapoor explains that courtesans believe dancing here on this day grants them liberation from their current life in the next birth.
•Courtesans from Varanasi and surrounding districts gather to participate in this all-night event, seeking atonement.