NEW DELHI (NYTIMES) - After a giant Hindu pilgrimage contributed to a catastrophic Covid-19 surge this spring, some states in India are preparing for a new season of religious festivals by imposing crowd limits, as experts warn of the threat of a third wave of infections.
Several festivals taking place in September and October typically draw large crowds to temples, processions and markets. In the past, the authorities have struggled to get devotees to follow health protocols.
The Kumbh Mela, which drew millions of pilgrims to the banks of the Ganges River in the spring with hardly any testing or social distancing, was widely blamed for spreading the virus, as pilgrims carried infections back to their villages and towns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government faced criticism for allowing the Kumbh Mela to take place despite warnings that it would become a superspreader event. Last month, Mr Modi's government asked states to take "suitable measures to avoid large gatherings during the coming festive season", and to impose local restrictions if needed.
At a news conference last week, Dr V.K. Paul, head of the national Covid-19 task force, reinforced the warning.
"We shall celebrate the festivals within the family - we should not have big gatherings," he said.
States have responded with varying measures in the days before a festival celebrating Ganesh, the Hindu elephant god.
In the south-western state of Karnataka, the government said that gatherings should be capped at 20 people and imposed a 9 pm curfew. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, officials announced a ban on large celebrations and offered payments to idol-making potters whose businesses would be badly affected.
The western state of Maharashtra, among the worst hit by the spring Covid-19 wave, draws some of the biggest crowds for the festival, known as Ganesh Chaturthi. In Mumbai, the state capital, the authorities issued guidelines limiting processions to 10 people, all of whom must be fully vaccinated and masked, news media reported.
Although India's outbreak has eased, the country continues to report nearly 40,000 new cases and almost 400 deaths daily. With Covid-19 fatigue kicking in and the economy still flailing, many states are reluctant to impose strict restrictions. Mr Modi's government has bet that a ramped-up vaccination drive can boost immunity and keep another wave from being as deadly as the last.
With localised virus surges taking place in a handful of states, continued restrictions could help prevent a nationwide third wave as India's vaccination rates remain relatively low.
After a slow start to vaccinations, India has administered more than eight million doses a day over the past week.
More than 700 million doses have been given nationwide, but less than one-fifth of the country's roughly 900 million adults are fully vaccinated, according to official statistics.
