India celebrates Holi amid alarming surge in COVID cases

For second consecutive year, people encouraged to stay home to avoid turning the festivities into superspreader events.

Indians are celebrating Holi, the festival of colours, despite many states restricting gatherings to contain a coronavirus resurgence across the country. Holi marks the advent of spring and is widely celebrated throughout Hindu-majority India. Most years, millions of people throw coloured powder and spray water at each other in outdoor celebrations. But for the second consecutive year, people were encouraged to stay home to avoid turning the festivities into superspreader events amid the latest virus surge.