Indians gather for Holi celebrations as virus cases surge

Hindus threw colored powder and sprayed water in massive Holi cel- ebrations Monday despite many Indian states restrict- ing gatherings to try to contain a coronavirus resurgence rippling across the country.

Holi marks the advent of spring and is widely cele- brated throughout Hindu-majority India. Most years, millions of people throw colored powder at each other in outdoor cel- ebrations. But for the sec- ond consecutive year, people were encouraged to stay at home to avoid turning the festivities into super- spreader events amid the latest virus surge.

India’s confirmed infec- tions have exceeded 60,000 daily over the past week from a low of about 10,000 in February. On Monday, the health ministry reported 68,020 new cases, the sharpest daily rise since October. It took the nationwide tally to more than 12 million.

Daily deaths rose by 291 and the virus has so far killed 161,843 people in the country.

The latest surge is centered in the western state of Maharashtra where author- ities have tightened travel restrictions and imposed night curfews. It is considering a strict lockdown.

Cases are also rising in the capital New Delhi and states of Punjab, Karnataka, Guja- rat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

The surge coincides with multi-stage state elections marked by large gather- ings and roadshows, and the Kumbh Mela, or pitcher festival, celebrated in northern Haridwar city, where tens of thousands of Hindu devotees daily take a holy dip into the Ganges river.

India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, has vaccinated around 60 million people, of which only 9 million have received both doses of vaccine so far.