The Asian Reporter Pacific Northwest News q Volume 31 Number 4 q April 5, 2021 q www.asianreporter.com Indians gather for Holi celebrations as virus cases surge COLORFUL CELEBRATION. Indians smeared in color participate in Holi festival celebrations in Gauhati, India, on March 29, 2021. Hindus threw colored powder and sprayed water during massive Holi celebrations despite many Indian states restricting gatherings to try to contain a coronavirus resurgence rippling across the country. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) By Sheikh Saaliq The Associated Press EW DELHI — Hindus threw colored powder and sprayed water in massive Holi celebrations despite many Indian states restricting gatherings to try to contain a corona- virus resurgence rippling across the country. Holi marks the advent of spring and is widely celebrated throughout Hindu- majority India. Most years, millions of people throw colored powder at each other in outdoor celebrations. But for the second consecutive year, people were encouraged N The Asian Reporter 922 N. Killingsworth St. Portland, OR 97217 USA The Asian Reporter is published on the first Monday each month. to stay at home to avoid turning the festivities into superspreader 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. The health ministry reported 68,020 new cases on March 29, the sharpest daily rise since October last year. It took the nationwide tally to more than 12 million. Daily deaths rose by 291 and the virus has so far killed more than 164,000 people in the country. The latest surge is centered in the western state of Maharashtra where authorities have tightened travel restrictions and imposed night curfews. It is considering a strict lockdown. Cases are also rising in the capital of New Delhi and the states of Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. The surge coincides with multi-stage state elections marked by large gatherings and roadshows, and the Kumbh Mela, or pitcher festival, celebrated in northern Haridwar city, where tens of thousands of Hindu devotees daily take a holy dip into the Ganges river. Health experts worry that unchecked gatherings can lead to clusters, adding the Please report all hate crimes committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. situation can be controlled if vaccination is opened up for more people and COVID-19 protocols are strictly followed. India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, has vaccinated around 60 million people, of which only 9 million have received both doses of vaccine so far. However, more than 60 million doses manufactured in India have been exported abroad, prompting widespread criticism that domestic needs should be catered to first. The government said last week that there would be no immediate increase in exports. It said vaccines would be given to everyone over age 45 starting April 1.