No Holi in THIS state as govt issues restrictions amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Holi is just around the corner and people across the country are gearing up to celebrate the festival of colours. Last year the Holi celebrations were dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic so this year people were hoping for some respite.

But the rising cases in many states have forced the state governments to impose several restrictions.

In some disappointing news for residents of Gujarat, the state government on Sunday (March 21) announced restrictions for playing Holi amid the surge in rising case of COVID-19 in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel had said that this year, no permission will be granted for the festival of Holi and violators will be strictly punished.

The festival of Holi, this year will fall on March 29 and Holika Dahan on March 28.

Patel added that only the ‘Holika Dahan’ ritual will be allowed by the government. The pyre lighting ritual, however, will be celebrated in the presence of a limited number of people in villages and housing societies.

Patel asserted that he believes in the people of Gujarat and knows that they will adhere to the rules and not play Holi.

Meanwhile, amid the rising cases of COVID-19, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on Saturday (March 20) had appealed to people appeal asking them not to panic in light of the recent surge in cases. He added that the state government is not considering a statewide lockdown as of yet.

Gujarat on Saturday recorded 1,565 cases - the highest in four months- of COVID-19 taking the state’s total cases to 2,85,429.