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Noida: Every year, when it is ‘Phalguna’ month (in Hindu calender, Phalguna is twelfth month of the year and corresponds with February/March in the Gregorian calendar), people believing in Hinduism gear up for Holi festival. Celebrations of Holi require gathering of people to make it more colourful with sharing of sweets and colours with each other.
This year, the festival – Holi will be celebrated on March 10 at a time when deadly coronavirus has already gripped several countries and over two dozen people have been tested positive in different parts of the country in last few days.
In the wake of the outbreak of deadly virus, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a message to the people that he will not participate in any Holi Milan programme. The Prime Minister in a tweet, said, “Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.”
The Home Minister, Amit Shah too urged people to avoid public gatherings amid coronavirus scare in the country. “Holi is a very important festival for we Indians but in the wake of coronavirus, I've decided not to participate in any Holi Milan celebration this year,” Shah tweeted.
Following the messages from both the Prime Minister and Home Minister that they will not participate in any Holi Milan programme, social organisations, Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Delhi-NCR have decided to cancel Holi Milan programmes.
People living in highrises in Noida and Greater Noida too have decided not to organise Holi programmes in residential societies as a preventive measure. Noida Extension Flat Owners and Welfare Association (NEFOWA), an association of residents living in highrises in Greater Noida, had prepared for a big gathering for Holi celebration, however, it has decided to cancel it now.
Abhishek Kumar, President of NEFOWA, said, “We have prepared for Holi Milan and had planned to invite residents from all societies in Greater Noida area but now we have decided to cancel the programme. Many people living in highrises frequently visit foreign countries for their business purpose or for job and hence being a responsible association, it is our duty to follow advisory of the government and not to organise Holi Milan programme.”
