Hyderabad: Holi Revelries coronavirus May Play Spoilsport

Hyderabad: Thanks to coronavirus scare, this year, the Holi festival is losing all its colours and turning out to be a damp squib. There is a huge dip in sales of colour and water guns.

Subhash, owner of Balaji Rangoli color, Begum Bazaar, said, "With only a day left for the festival, hardly any customers have come to buy colours or water guns. There is lack of demand and this year the business is hit due to the coronavirus."

Apartment blocks that used to usually put up posters related to the festival of colours are still contemplating on whether or not to celebrate Holi this year. Kamlesh S, a resident of Meghadri Heights in Yapral said, "This year, not many people are interested to celebrate Holi due to the coronavirus scare. The kids were also asked not to play Holi."

S Anushka, a student of class 12 in Sri Chaitanya College in Jeedimetla said, "I used to play Holi every year with my friends and cousins. But this year, I don't think I'll be allowed to play Holi because of the deadly coronavirus spreading across the world."

Dr Bhaskar Rao, a general physician in Xenia Hospital, ECIL said, "The Holi colours may or may not affect a person but since the festival is a social gathering there are chances of spread of the virus. However, there is no need to fear for the people if they take the right precautions while playing Holi."