Indian authorities covered yesterday, 25th of March, the facade of Muslim mosques with plastic and tarpaulin coverings in what it described as a preemptive measure during the passage of a procession as part of the Hindu festival of colours, Holi.
This measure was in conducted in response to concerns about potential religious tensions during this important festive period in India.
The celebrations of the Hindu festival of colors, Holi, across India typically involve throwing dry powdered colors, playing with water guns, enjoying music, and sweets.
In this context, officials in the state of Uttar Pradesh expressed concerns that the celebrations, especially a procession featuring the Hindu deity Lord Rama, could lead to sectarian disturbances in some areas.
It is worth noting that India has witnessed incidents of anti-Muslim hate speech in recent years, with Uttar Pradesh alone experiencing around 104 in 2023. Therefore, authorities took these precautionary measures to prevent any new tensions during the celebrations of the Hindu festival of colors.
