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.
Indian Hindu devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them by a Hindu priest during celebrations marking Holi at the Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Indians dance and throw colored powder during Holi festival celebrations in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
A man smears the face of a woman with colored powder during celebrations marking the Holi festival in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
A woman's hair is smeared with colored powder during celebrations marking the Holi festival in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
A woman's face is smeared with colored powder during celebrations marking the Holi festival in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Indian children spray colored water as they celebrate Holi festival in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 9, 2020. . (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Women with their faces smeared with colored powder cheer during celebrations marking the Holi festival in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Indians dance and spray color during Holi festival celebrations in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020.. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indians dance and throw colored powder during Holi festival celebrations in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indians smear colors and pour water on each other as they celebrate Holi festival in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indians dance and throw colored powder during Holi festival celebrations in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indians smear colored powder on each other during Holi festival celebrations in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Face of a woman is smeared with colored powder during celebrations marking the Holi festival in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Indian revelers, faces smeared with colored powder, dance during celebrations to mark Holi, the Hindu festival of colors in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Text from AP News story, Holi festival subdued in India over coronavirus concern.