Holi 2021: Scores of devotees flout COVID-19 protocols at Mathura's Dwarkadhish Temple

Holi 2021 is here and people are all set to enjoy the enjoy the festival with their closed family and friends, albeit following COVID19 guidelines and protocols.

Thousands of devotees gathered at the Dwarkadhish temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura on Sunday (March 28) to enjoy and celebrate the festival of colours together. But what was striking that most of these people were not wearing face masks and were brazenly defying COVID-19 prevention protocols. 

In a video shared by ANI, scores of devotees, young an old, can be seen dancing and throwing colours at each other. The devotees were also chanting and clapping as prayers songs were being played through the temple’s loudspeakers. One of the temple pandits can be seen throwing plate-full of colours on devotees, who can be seen cheering.

The minute long video comes at a time when India is fighting a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases and various state governments have imposed lockdowns and night curfew to contain the spread of the virus.

#WATCH: A day before Holi, devotees celebrate the festival in Mathura's Dwarkadhish Temple pic.twitter.com/Y2OTtiRNh7

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 28, 2021

The video has clearly not gone well with netizens with many criticising the devotees for not following COVID-19 norms and social distancing.

what about coronavirus ?!

— Sara (@setsetcircle2) March 28, 2021

Why so much gathering in second wave of Corona?

— The Intellectual (@realnitinarora) March 28, 2021

Dwarkadhish Temple is one of the largest and oldest temples of Mathura and sees massive Holi celebrations every year as Mathura is considered to be the homeland of Lord Kirshna.