Holi festival despite COVID cases

People in India have come together to celebrate the 'festival of love' despite the nation's coronavirus cases rising above 60,000. 

The figures are the highest the country has reported since October, taking its tally to 11.91 million cases. The death toll rose by 291, taking the total toll to 161,240.

Despite the rising cases, people gathered in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, to celebrate Holi, an ancient Hindu festival which celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha and Krishna. 

Also known as the 'festival of colours' and the 'festival of spring', the celebration also signifies the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring and end of winter, and is recognised as a festive day to meet others, and mend broken relationships. 

Holi celebrations commence the day before, which is known as Holi Dahan, where people gather to perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire and pray for their internal evil to be destroyed.  

The following day, the streets are painted with colour and water is used to drench others. In this portion of the festival, anyone is fair game - friends or strangers, old or young - to be smeared with colour and drenched with water. 

The colours can be created by using natural ingredients including beetroot, berries or turmeric. (Daily Mail)