Holi festival subdued in India over coronavirus concerns
Hindus threw colored powder and sprayed water in massive celebrations of the festival of Holi in India, but the enthusiasm was subdued compared to previous years because of fears of the new coronavirus.
Brightly colored powder filled the air in most parts of North India. But in the capital, New Delhi, many events were canceled as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country rose to 47.
Holi, which marks the advent of spring, is widely celebrated in India, Nepal and other South Asian countries.
Most years, millions of people from toddlers to the elderly throw powder at each other and play with water balloons and squirt guns.
But this year Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he would not participate in public Holi celebrations because of the virus outbreak.
Text from AP News story, Holi festival subdued in India over coronavirus concern.