Egyptian youths plunge into the Nile during Sham El Nassim - in pictures

Sham El Nessim is a national secular holiday celebrated by all Egyptians on the Orthodox Easter Monday

Egyptian youths dive into the water at the entrance of a canal near the Nile river delta barrages in Qanater al-Khayreya, north of Cairo, during the holiday of Sham al-Nessim. AFP

Young men swimming and diving near the Nile river delta barrages in Qanater al-Khayreya during Sham al-Nessim, a Pharaonic feast that marks the start of spring. This year the holiday coincides with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

Youths dive and swim in Nile river water near the Nile delta barrages at the town of Qanater al-Khayreya north of the capital during the holiday of Sham al-Nessim, a Pharaonic feast that marks the start of spring, which this year coincides with the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. Sham al-Nessim, from the original ancient Egyptian name "Shemu", is a national secular holiday celebrated by all Egyptians but always coincides with Easter Monday according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar. Egypt's government closed all public parks and venues due to a spike in COVID-19 coronavirus cases. AFP

Sham al-Nessim is a national secular holiday celebrated by all Egyptians and always coincides with Easter Monday according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar. AFP

Swimmers and divers enjoy the Sham al-Nessim holiday in Qanater al-Khayreya, north of Cairo. The Egyptian government all public parks and similar venues because of a surge in Covid-19 case numbers. AFP

A young man prepares to launch into a backflip into a canal near the Nile river delta barrages in the town of Qanater al-Khayreya north of Cairo, Egypt. The secular holiday of Sham al-Nessim, a Pharaonic feast that marks the start of spring, this year coincides with the Muslim holy fasting month. AFP

Taking a holiday plunge ... a youth launches himself into a canal near the Nile river delta barrages in Qanater al-Khayreya, Egypt. All Egyptians celebrate Sham al-Nessim, from the original ancient Egyptian name Shem, a national secular holiday that always coincides with Easter Monday according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar and this year falls during Ramadan. AFP

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