PHOTO COLLECTION: Cherry Blossoms

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PHOTO COLLECTION: Cherry Blossoms

2025-03-31 13:51 Last Updated At：14:02

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

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The cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 in Washington. The National Park Service predicts peak bloom this year between March 28–31. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 in Washington. The National Park Service predicts peak bloom this year between March 28–31. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Visitors walks along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People take pictures with the cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. Blooming dandelion, in yellow, is seen at front. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

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With the Washington Monument in the background, visitors walk along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People take photos in front of a cherry blossom tree, in St James's Park, London, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)

People ride boat near the cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Visitors take pictures along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People ride boat near the cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Visitors take pictures as they walk along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Visitors walk along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The blooming Somei Yoshino cherry tree is seen at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

People look at blooming Somei Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A cherry tree is in blossom at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A person poses for a photo amid the blooming cherry trees Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

People walk under the canopies of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Visitors walk around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A visitor walks around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Washington Monument is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, around the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen with cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

People take a photo at the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A person poses for a photo amid the blooming cherry trees Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

People walk under the canopies of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Cherry blossoms are reflected in a woman's sunglasses along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Kerry Santeliz, 15, poses for her photographer in her quinceañera dress under the shade of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom Wednesday, March 26, 2025, around the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Visitor walk and take photos around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A person poses for a photo amid the blooming cherry trees Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A woman wears a cherry blossom head band while walking under the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Sydney Hamilton and Stephen Dyer pose for their engagement session under the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The cherry blossom has begun in a street in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

The cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Kerry Santeliz, 15, poses for her photographer in her quincea'era dress under the shade of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

A person poses for a photo around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Washington Monument is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, around the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

More Images

The cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 in Washington. The National Park Service predicts peak bloom this year between March 28–31. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 in Washington. The National Park Service predicts peak bloom this year between March 28–31. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Visitors walks along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People take pictures with the cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. Blooming dandelion, in yellow, is seen at front. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

With the Washington Monument in the background, visitors walk along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People take photos in front of a cherry blossom tree, in St James's Park, London, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)

People ride boat near the cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Visitors take pictures along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

People ride boat near the cherry blossoms at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Visitors take pictures as they walk along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Visitors walk along the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom this week in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The blooming Somei Yoshino cherry tree is seen at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

People look at blooming Somei Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A cherry tree is in blossom at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Tuesday March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A person poses for a photo amid the blooming cherry trees Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

People walk under the canopies of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Visitors walk around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A visitor walks around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Washington Monument is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, around the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen with cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

People take a photo at the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A person poses for a photo amid the blooming cherry trees Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

People walk under the canopies of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Cherry blossoms are reflected in a woman's sunglasses along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Kerry Santeliz, 15, poses for her photographer in her quinceañera dress under the shade of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom Wednesday, March 26, 2025, around the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Visitor walk and take photos around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A person poses for a photo amid the blooming cherry trees Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A woman wears a cherry blossom head band while walking under the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Sydney Hamilton and Stephen Dyer pose for their engagement session under the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The Jefferson Memorial is seen in the distance as the cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The cherry blossom has begun in a street in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

The cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Kerry Santeliz, 15, poses for her photographer in her quincea'era dress under the shade of cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

A person poses for a photo around the Tidal Basin as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The Washington Monument is seen as cherry trees begin to bloom, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, around the Tidal Basin in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Declining Eid travel and spending in Indonesia and discrimination in India dampen holiday spirit

2025-03-31 13:45 Last Updated At：13:51

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The usual festive mood of Eid al-Fitr holiday to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan has been subdued in Indonesia this year as people grapple with soaring prices for food, clothing and essential goods.

Consumer spending ahead of the biggest religious holiday for Muslims, which was celebrated on Sunday in Indonesia, has declined compared to the previous year, with a predicted slowdown in cash circulation due to fewer travelers.

Each year in Indonesia, nearly three-quarters of the population of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country travel for the annual homecoming known locally as “mudik” that is always welcomed with excitement.

People pour out of major cities to return to villages to celebrate the holiday with prayers, feasts and family gatherings. Flights are overbooked and anxious relatives weighed down with boxes of gifts form long lines at bus and train stations for the journey

But this year the Transportation Ministry said Eid travelers reached 146 million people, a 24% drop from last year’s 194 million travelers.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry projects that money circulation during Eid will reach 137.97 trillion rupiah ($8.33 billion), down from 157.3 trillion last year. The weakening purchasing power is also reflected in Bank Indonesia’s Consumer Confidence Index which dipped to 126.4 in February from 127.2 in January.

Bhima Yudistira, executive director of the Center for Economic and Law Studies, or Celios, said those trends indicate the economy is under strain, driven by economic hardship, coupled with currency depreciation and mass layoffs in manufacturing.

“These have weakened both corporate earnings and workers’ incomes that suppress consumer spending,” Yudistira said, adding he “expects a less vibrant festive season.”

He said the festive spirit has been stifled by harsh economic realities, as soaring prices and dwindling incomes force residents to prioritize survival over celebration.

Traditionally household consumption is a key driver of Indonesia’s GDP. It contributed over 50% to the economy last year, helping push annual growth to 5.11%. However, consumer spending in 2025 is expected to be more subdued, Yudistira said.

Despite the downturn, the government remains optimistic that the Ramadan and Eid momentum will support economic growth in the first quarter of 2025.

“Eid usually boosts the economy through increased spending,” Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said ahead of the Islamic holiday.

The government recently introduced incentives to stimulate economic activity, including airfare and toll road fee discounts, nationwide online shopping events, direct cash assistance for 16 million households, electricity bill reductions for low-consumption customers, and tax exemptions for labor-intensive sectors.

“With these programs in place, the government hopes to sustain consumer spending and support economic stability,” Hartarto said.

The situation has also affected Endang Trisilowati, a mother of four, who said her family had to scale down their festivities budget.

“Honestly, the economic hardship is affecting us,” Trisilowati said. She described how she used to cook different dishes every Eid and invite neighbors, but now she can only afford a simple meal for her family.

“Many have resorted to just finding a way to eat on that festivity, but the spirit is low,” she said.

In India, Muslims are marking the celebration of Eid with special prayers, family gatherings and festive meals.

The holiday comes as the minority community faces vilification by hardline Hindu nationalists. Muslim groups are also protesting against a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to change laws governing Muslim land endowments.

The government says it wants to weed out corruption and mismanagement in hundreds of thousands of Muslim land endowments. But Muslim groups say the proposal pending approval in India’s parliament is discriminatory.

Muslims, who comprise 14% of India’s 1.4 billion population, are the largest minority group in the Hindu-majority nation.

Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party launched a nationwide initiative called “Saugat-e-Modi,” or “Modi’s gift,” during Ramadan that is expected to provide food and clothes to over 3 million underprivileged Muslims to celebrate Eid.

In New Delhi, thousands assembled in the Jama Masjid, one of the country’s largest mosques, to offer Eid prayers. Families came together early Monday morning and many people shared hugs and wishes.

“This is a day of giving and receiving love. Even if you meet an enemy, meet them with love today,” said 18-year-old student Mohammed Nooruddin.

Associated Press writers Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar and Rishi Lekhi in New Delhi, India, contributed to this report.