India is battling the second wave of Coronavirus and while the country celebrated most of the festivals behind closed doors in 2020, the sudden surge in the covid cases with the new strain of the virus spreading rapidly has forced people to celebrate Holi with Covid restrictions.


 As India sees an upsurge in coronavirus cases on a daily basis, several states have declared a ban on the public celebration of the Holi festival.


Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had cancelled Holi Milan and advised people not to play Holi in large gatherings.


Following are the states and union territories that have imposed restrictions on the public celebration of the Holi festival:


1. Haryana



  • All public gatherings on Holi are banned.

  •  Special instructions have been issued to the police officers posted in the field.


2. Delhi



  • All public gatherings on Holi and Shab-e-barat are banned.

  • Nobody is allowed to organise or attend celebrations at public places, parks, market places, religious places.

  • Random testing being conducted at Delhi airport, bus and railway stations.


3. Maharashtra



  • On 28th and 29th March, Holi celebrations in public places are completely banned in Mumbai.

  • In Pune, Holi celebrations in public are banned.

  • Holi celebrations are banned even in hotels, resorts and rural districts.


4. Punjab



  • All Holi celebrations are banned

  • Holika Dahan is permitted with upto five persons.

  • Face masks are mandatory at market places.


5. Rajasthan



  • On 28th and 29th March, Holi celebrations in public are permitted from 4 PM to 10 PM only.

  • Not more than 50 persons allowed in the gatherings.

  • Anyone coming from other states need to show a COVID-19 negative RT-PCR report.


6. Madhya Pradesh



  • All public gatherings and celebrations on Holi are banned.

  • People have been advised to celebrate Holi at home.

  • All offices and shops will be closed on Holi.


7. Bihar



  • ‘Holi Milan’ gatherings are banned across the state.

  • No one will be allowed to either organise a Holi Milan or attend it in a crowd.


8. Gujarat



  • No permission granted for Holi celebrations.

  • Only ‘Holika Dahan’, a pyre lighting ritual, will be allowed.

  • Limited number of people will be allowed in housing societies and villages.


9. Uttar Pradesh



  • No procession would be carried out without prior permission for Holi celebrations.

  • People above 60 years, children below 10 years, and those having comorbidities, should remain indoors.

  • Any event allowed must ensure mask and sanitization requirements.


10. Uttarakhand



  • Holi and Kumbh Mela festival celebrations are allowed with necessary precautions.

  • Anyone not wearing face mask or maintaining social distance will be fined.

  • Celebrate Holi at homes.

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Apart from these states, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Chandigarh have also imposed banned or imposed restrictions on Holi gatherings.