Four apps to safely virtually wish your friends for Holi amid the pandemic

With the novel coronavirus pandemic seeing its first major resurgence in the form of the second wave, staying at home and staying safe is of the utmost importance during the coming weeks. This is so the chain of transmission can be broken and the healthcare system isn’t strained. However, that doesn’t mean the celebrations have to be curtailed in any way -- video calling apps are the best way to keep in touch with friends and family, even if they’re far away.

One added advantage of having a virtual celebration is the ability to connect with loved ones who would not be able to travel like those in the hospital or those living abroad. You can also extend the celebrations to those who have not been in touch because they live in different cities which makes travel difficult even before the pandemic.

Here are four apps you can use to connect with your loved ones this Holi, to keep the celebrations alive and have a wonderful time with your loved ones.

1. Facebook Messenger

If you’re looking for the easiest way to start a video chat party with your friends and family, there’s no better solution than Facebook’s Messenger app. Almost everyone has a Facebook account and has the apps installed on their phones, while the company also provides desktop apps and access via the Messenger.com website. You can set up a video room and invite all your friends and/or family members and start the party right away.

2. Zoom

A relatively unknown service before the lockdown, Zoom has now become a household word for everyone from students, teachers and working professionals who use the service to connect with their peers during the lockdown. But Zoom can be used for family functions too, with fun background filters and online services that can be used to play virtual games. You can even have a virtual DJ, if one of the participants has a decent sound system.

3. Houseparty

A social video app that lets you connect with friends and family, Houseparty lets you talk to up to nine other people and see them on your screen at the same time. The app also features dedicated game modes for games like Uno and lets you add friends of friends to your Houseparty. For those Fortnite fans reading this, you can also enable a dedicated Fortnite mode to hang out with your friends while you’re gaming.

4. Facetime

While this isn’t the most inclusive option on the list, Facetime is Apple’s best solution for those who have iPhones and iPads or use Apple’s MacBooks and iMacs. The service allows you to have crystal clear 1:1 chats or even group calls and you can talk to all your relatives around the world without asking them to install a separate app, since Facetime comes built-in with all Apple devices.