Why everybody should NOT have played Masaan holi

Masaan Holi, is a type of holi celebrated in the ancient city of Kashi. In Masaan Holi, as evident by the name, people smear and play with ash (bhasm) instead of the colourful powders, gulaals and water. The ash or bhasm that is used in Masaan holi is often brought from the cremation grounds, and from the burnt bodies of the dead. It is believed that this tradition, which was only practised by a select few of the society, emerged from the idea of accepting the impermanence of life.

Initially, Masaan Holi was only associated with the ascetics, the Aghoris and the spiritual seekers who had attained a certain level of asceticism and frequented Kashi. The babas, Naga Sadhus and the Aghoris were the only ones who used to play Masaan holi for the ashes of the deceased were only touched by them and only they had attained the enlightenment necessary to do something like that.
As the Aghoris and Naga sadhus have detached themselves from the material and the worldly, and done so after great devotion, they were the ones who were allowed to play Holi with Lord Shiva in the form of Masaan holi.

Over time, Masaan holi has been reduced to a trend which everyone celebrates and looks forward to and then uploads a plethora of pictures and videos of. A ceremony that was once very intimate and only done by the select few has now become a spectacle attracting tourists and influencers. And for people who realise that this is not how it should be, these signs are nothing less than bad omens.
Now, when you go to Kashi just after Rangbhari holi, you see thousands of people enjoying the play of Masaan holi and happily smearing ashes over each other and then sharing it with the world. But, this is not how it should be and a ritual so exclusive should not become a trend.

The answer is fairly simple but might need some explanation. To be put briefly, students, elders, married people (both men and women), children and anyone who has not given up on his worldly and material desires should not be playing Masaan holi.
The cremation grounds and the ash that is present there is not something that should be played with, in fact, the cremation ground should not just be entered by anybody. There are rules and regulations for entering merely inside the ground. And with all the rules in place, it is a sad state to see almost anyone playing Masaan Holi for a trend and because of not having enough knowledge.
Further, a person who is married, has a family or is still studying or is in the prime of their life, if they start playing Masaan Holi and smearing themselves with ashes of the dead and deceased, how does it sit right with them? A living human who has his or her ties and relations with the world, should not be engaging in an act that involves the dead.

Masaan Holi is a play of Shiv ji and his devotees who do not engage in the act of ‘Rangbhari Holi’. It is said that after Shiva played rangbhari holi with the other Gods, he saw how his otherworldly devotees did not join him for their aversion to the pomp and show and so it was Shiva who went to Manikarnika to play Holi with them and did so with the ashes he found nearby.
So, instead of blindly following trends or in the aura of looking cool if you do something that is in trend, don't forget the rationality behind these things. Respect the rules in place and the thoughts that were present for a particular festival. As a ‘Grihast’ or a student or just someone who did not renounce the riches, it is not right to play Masaan holi. Focus on the colours you have in life and make your decisions wisely.