ヒンズー教の春の祭典「ホーリー」　ウイルス警戒も開催　インド

【ニューデリーＡＦＰ＝時事】インド北部で5日、ヒンズー教の春の祭典「ホーリー」が開催され、人々が色とりどりの粉をかけ合った。新型コロナウイルス感染症の流行の中、ナレンドラ・モディ首相は祭りへの参加を見送ると表明していた。（写真はヒンズー教の春の祭典「ホーリー」。インド・ウッタルプラデシュ州のナンドガオンにて）
　古代から続くこの祭りは、冬の終わりと悪に対する善の勝利を告げるもの。今月１０日は国民の祝日にもなっている。
　しかし新型ウイルスの流行を受け、政府は大規模な集まりに警戒を呼び掛けていた。国内ではこれまでに３０人の感染者が確認されている。
　ウッタルプラデシュ州のナンドガオンで祭りの参加者らはＡＦＰに対し、新型ウイルスのせいで活動を制限したくないと語った。懸念を振り切り、例年より少し早く祭りを始めたという。
　参加した２３歳の学生は、「心配ならば…家にいて何もしないべきです。でもそんなの人生じゃない」「予防策をとれば、すべてがうまくいきます」と話した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/03/06-14:27）

Thousands of Indians welcomed spring in a rainbow of colours Thursday, celebrating the annual festival of Holi even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would stay away from festivities due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The ancient Hindu festival of Holi, which heralds the end of winter and the victory of good over evil, will be marked with a national public holiday in India on Tuesday, when revellers pour onto the streets.
But the outbreak of the virus, which has led to 30 positive cases so far in the country, has led the government to caution against mass gatherings.
India is the world's second-most populous nation after China, where the virus first emerged late last year.
Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, Modi tweeted Wednesday.
Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.
Revellers in Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh state shook off their fears and kicked off the festival a bit early with celebrations on Thursday, telling AFP they didn't want the virus to curb their activities.
If we get worried... we should stay home and not do anything, because the virus is over here, but that's not how life goes, said Preggya, a 23-year-old student.
We just have to take precautions and everything will be fine.
A 41-year-old Italian tourist who gave his first name, Mauro, said: We need to be reasonable (in) handling the issue.
I think it is a serious thing, but I think it's become too serious... the way they are handling (it), he added.
More than 97,000 people have been infected and over 3,300 have died worldwide from the virus, which by Thursday had reached more than 80 countries and territories.
Celebrated mainly in India, Nepal and other countries with large Hindu populations, Holi falls on the last full moon of winter.