Watch: Covid guidelines go for a toss as hundreds converge at UP’s Banke Bihari Temple to rejoice Holi

Even as state governments issued new tips prohibiting mass gatherings throughout the Holi competition amid resurgence of coronavirus circumstances, hundreds converged on the Banke Bihari Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan to rejoice the competition.
In a video tweeted by information company ANI, hundreds of devotees, with out facemasks, have been seen thronging the well-known Mathura temple whereas tossing colors within the air.
Interestingly, monks are heard requesting the ocean of crowd to again away from the temple entrance.

#WATCH | Devotees play #Holi at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. pic.twitter.com/YYxYRRHVWr
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 29, 2021
Amid fears of a contemporary Covid-19 surge throughout the festive season, the Uttar Pradesh authorities had final week issued instructions for “aggressive Covid tests” at airports, bus stations and railway stations, and stated the Covid-19 vaccination drive can be intensified.

All sorts of processions have additionally been banned throughout the festive season within the state with out the administration’s permission. If permission is granted, all these concerned must comply with the fundamental Covid-19 protocols corresponding to social distancing, sporting face masks and utilizing sanitisers. Further, these above 60 years or youthful than 10, and other people with co-morbidities won’t be allowed to take part in any gathering.
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Amid a spike in COVID-19 infections in some components of the nation, the Centre had on Wednesday requested states and union territories to think about imposing native restrictions in public observance of the upcoming festivals and restrict or cast off mass gatherings for efficient management of the pandemic.

“…in view of upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Bihu, Easter and Eid-ul-Fitr, etc., it is strongly advised that states may consider imposing local restrictions in public observance of these festivals and limit/do away with mass gatherings in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005,” Additional Secretary within the Health Ministry Arti Ahuja, in a letter to state chief secretaries and union territory directors, acknowledged.
In an analogous occasion final Monday, hundreds of individuals, most of them with out facemasks, gathered on the Shri Radha Rani temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura to rejoice ‘Laddu maar Holi’.

Another occasion in Mathura noticed ladies beating males with sticks as a part of ‘Lathmar Holi’ celebrations in Barsana on Sunday.
Besides Uttar Pradesh, a number of states and UTs like Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chandigarh have imposed strict restrictions on all types of actions associated to the Holi competition.