NEW DELHI: India’s Hindu festival of Holi was subdued on Tuesday with fears of the coronavirus putting a damper on the usually boisterous celebration marked by the throwing of colored powder and dousing with dyed water.
The two-day spring festival is a rowdy explosion of color, with people smearing each other’s faces with green, yellow and red powder.
But the coronavirus, which has infected nearly 40 people in India, looks set to spoil the fun this year.
“Avoid participating in large gatherings,” the Ministry of Health said in notice warning of the danger of the virus, while wishing everyone a “Happy and Safe Holi.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he would not celebrate Holi this year. Shopkeepers said rumors that the colored powders and dyes revelers use in the festival were imported from China had hurt their sales.
The virus originated in China late last year.
“Customers are down by at least 50 to 60%,” said Suresh Singh, a shopkeeper in Lucknow, the capital of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, who sells the powders and dyes.
“Usually at this time of year the market is very crowded but now it’s quiet,” Singh said. “I’m not even selling colors from China ... they’re from Delhi.”
In a suburb of Mumbai, people put up a giant effigy of the coronavirus and set it ablaze. Women sang songs to banish the virus, telling it to “go away,” videos shared on social media showed.
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India’s celebration of festival of colors muted amid coronavirus fears
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India’s celebration of festival of colors muted amid coronavirus fears
- Coronavirus putting a damper on the usually boisterous celebration of Hindu festival of Holi
- Two-day spring festival is a rowdy explosion of color
Australia calls on Trump to respect NATO soldiers
- ‘Those 47 Australian families who will be hurting by these comments, they deserve our absolute respect, our admiration’
- US President Donald Trump lamented efforts of non-US troops in Afghanistan as ‘completely unacceptable’
SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that comments from US President Donald Trump lamenting the efforts of non-US troops in Afghanistan were “completely unacceptable.”
Trump said in a Fox News interview that NATO sent “some troops” but “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
Trump appeared to be partially walking back his remarks on Saturday amid growing outrage from European and now Australian allies.
Speaking on the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday morning, Albanese said Australian families of fallen soldiers would be “hurting” as a result of Trump’s comments.
“Those 47 Australian families who will be hurting by these comments, they deserve our absolute respect, our admiration,” Albanese said.
“The bravery that was shown by 40,000 Australians (who) served in Afghanistan, they were certainly on the frontlines in order to, along with our other allies, defend democracy and freedom and to defend our national interests,” he added.
“They deserve our respect.”
On Saturday, a day after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s remarks as “appalling,” Trump appeared to change his position — at least as far as British troops were concerned.
“The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken.”
Albanese referenced Trump’s later comments, suggesting he also appreciated the Australian effort in Afghanistan.
“I think President Trump’s comments overnight indicate a very different position. He’s acknowledged the contribution,” Albanese told the ABC, but added that Trump’s previous comments were “entirely not appropriate. Completely unacceptable.”
‘I don’t like you either’
Albanese also announced Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States, recommending Greg Moriarty for the job.
Earlier this month, Australia announced its ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, would leave after a three-year tenure overshadowed by Trump’s verdict on him: “I don’t like you either.”
Former Australian prime minister Rudd, who departs his post on March 31 to become president of the Asia Society think tank in New York, had sharply criticized Trump while he was out of office.
Trump expressed disdain for Rudd during a televised US-Australia meeting at the White House in October last year, prompting some Australian opposition calls for his posting to be ended.
Albanese said Moriarty was an “outstanding Australian public servant,” and he had consulted with the Trump administration on his selection.
Trump said in a Fox News interview that NATO sent “some troops” but “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
Trump appeared to be partially walking back his remarks on Saturday amid growing outrage from European and now Australian allies.
Speaking on the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday morning, Albanese said Australian families of fallen soldiers would be “hurting” as a result of Trump’s comments.
“Those 47 Australian families who will be hurting by these comments, they deserve our absolute respect, our admiration,” Albanese said.
“The bravery that was shown by 40,000 Australians (who) served in Afghanistan, they were certainly on the frontlines in order to, along with our other allies, defend democracy and freedom and to defend our national interests,” he added.
“They deserve our respect.”
On Saturday, a day after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s remarks as “appalling,” Trump appeared to change his position — at least as far as British troops were concerned.
“The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken.”
Albanese referenced Trump’s later comments, suggesting he also appreciated the Australian effort in Afghanistan.
“I think President Trump’s comments overnight indicate a very different position. He’s acknowledged the contribution,” Albanese told the ABC, but added that Trump’s previous comments were “entirely not appropriate. Completely unacceptable.”
‘I don’t like you either’
Albanese also announced Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States, recommending Greg Moriarty for the job.
Earlier this month, Australia announced its ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, would leave after a three-year tenure overshadowed by Trump’s verdict on him: “I don’t like you either.”
Former Australian prime minister Rudd, who departs his post on March 31 to become president of the Asia Society think tank in New York, had sharply criticized Trump while he was out of office.
Trump expressed disdain for Rudd during a televised US-Australia meeting at the White House in October last year, prompting some Australian opposition calls for his posting to be ended.
Albanese said Moriarty was an “outstanding Australian public servant,” and he had consulted with the Trump administration on his selection.
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