Photos: Indians gather, smear colours for Holi celebrations as virus cases surge

Indians from across the country threw colored powder and sprayed water in massive Holi celebrations Monday despite many Indian states restricting gatherings to try to contain a coronavirus resurgence rippling across the country. Holi marks the advent of spring and is widely celebrated throughout Hindu-majority India. Most years, millions of people throw colored powder at each other in outdoor celebrations. But for the second consecutive year, people were encouraged to stay at home to avoid turning the festivities into superspreader events amid the latest virus surge. India’s confirmed infections 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 last year. It took the nationwide tally to more than 12 million.

Updated on: Mar 29, 2021 5:28 PM IST

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Revellers dance as they celebrate Holi, the spring festival of colours, in Allahabad on March 29, 2021. (AFP)

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Mumbai: A girl drenched in colours during 'Holi' festival amid spike in COVID-19 cases, in Mumbai, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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A woman reacts as coloured powder is applied on her face during Holi celebrations, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India, March 29, 2021. (REUTERS)

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Kolkata: Women, wearing PPE kit, play with dry colours during Holi festival, as coronavirus cases spike across the country, at Begumbazar in Kolkata, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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New Delhi: A youngster plays with dry colours during the Holi festival at Paharganj, amid a spike in coronavirus cases, in New Delhi, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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A woman reacts as colour powder is applied to her face on during Holi celebrations, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ahmedabad, India, March 29, 2021. (REUTERS)

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Mumbai: People smear dry colours on each other during 'Holi' festival, amid a spike in coronavirus cases, in Mumbai, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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Mumbai: A woman smears colours to a child during celebration of 'Holi' festival amid spike in COVID-19 cases, in Mumbai, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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Kolkata: Women, wearing PPE kit, smear colours on each other during Holi festival, as coronavirus cases spike across the country, at Begumbazar in Kolkata, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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New Delhi: People play with dry colours during the Holi festival at Paharganj, amid a spike in coronavirus cases, in New Delhi, Monday, March 29, 2021. (PTI)

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A boy smeared with coloured powder shakes his head to remove it during Holi celebrations, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ahmedabad, India, March 29, 2021. (REUTERS)

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A man daubed in colours looks on during Holi celebrations, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ahmedabad, India, March 29, 2021. (REUTERS)

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Women wearing protective suits react as coloured powder is applied on their faces Holi celebrations, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kolkata, India, March 29, 2021. (REUTERS)

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A man wearing a protective face mask reacts as colour powder is thrown towards him during Holi celebrations, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Chennai, India, March 29, 2021. (REUTERS)