India

Komuniti India yang menyumbang 2% daripada populasi negeri itu melahirkan rasa syukur kerana sekali lagi berpeluang menyambut Thaipusam walaupun dalam skala kecil berbanding sebelum ini.

Experts have attributed the low hospitalisations to high levels of previous infections and vaccination.

Doctors had appealed unsuccessfully to the West Bengal state high court to reverse a decision to allow the festival this year, worrying it will become a virus 'super spreader' event.

Federal and state health officials say a majority of the infections in the ongoing third wave have been mild, with fewer hospitalisations and deaths than the previous surge.

380 kematian dicatat semalam menjadikan jumlah korban terkini mencecah 485,035 kes di India.

The health ministry says only 5% to 10% of the infected have sought hospitalisation, compared with 20% to 23% during the Delta-driven last wave that peaked in May.

Foreign funding had been cut off on Christmas Day, with the Narendra Modi government refusing to renew the charity's licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

The Calcutta High Court has asked the regional government – which estimates attendance at no more than 500,000 and supports the gathering – to issue advertisements warning people about the risks of attending.

Case numbers have yet to match the enormous figures seen last spring, when thousands died each day and the Hindu holy city of Varanasi maintained round-the-clock funeral pyres for the mass cremation of virus victims.

Federal health officials have warned even a large number of mild cases could put pressure on the health system.

Photos of more than 100 women had been featured on the 'Bulli Bai' app alongside derogatory messages.

Government officials privately say daily cases in the country's third wave of infections could surpass the record of more than 414,000 hit last May.