Pongal festival amid coronavirus pandemic, Chennai, India - 14 Jan 2022
Hindu devotees arrive to offer prayers in front of the closed Kapaleeshwarar temple as authorities ordered the closure of all places of worship to curb the spread of coronavirus disease during the Pongal festival, in Chennai, India, 14 January 2022. Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Tamil Nadu state government announced to close all places of worship from January 14 to 18 during the Pongal festival to curb the spread of coronavirus disease. As per the Union Health Ministry's data on 14 January 2022, India reported more than 2.64 lakh (2,64,202) new Covid-19 cases and 315 deaths in the last 24 hours.