HINDUS threw coloured powder and sprayed water in massive Holi celebrations today, 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.

Usually, millions of people throw coloured 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 super-spreader 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.

Today, the Health Ministry reported 68,020 new cases, the sharpest daily rise since last October, which 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.

India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, has vaccinated about 60 million people, of whom only nine million have received both doses.