NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, APRIL 5
Millions of Indians across the country switched off lights at their homes and lit candles and diyas or turned on mobile phone torches on Sunday night, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to show the nation’s ‘collective resolve and solidarity’ in its fight against coronavirus with this symbolic gesture on Sunday night from 9 p.m. to 9.09 p.m.
राष्ट्रपति कोविन्द ने, भारत की प्रथम महिला व परिवार के अन्य सदस्यों के साथ रात्रि 9 बजे मोमबत्ती जलाकर, सभी देशवासियों की सामूहिक एकजुटता और सकारात्मकता का परिचय दिया। COVID-19 का सामना करने में हर भारतीय के अदम्य साहस और दृढ़ संकल्प के लिए राष्ट्रपति ने सभी का आभार व्यक्त किया। pic.twitter.com/od4grQ73Pm
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 5, 2020
Much before the designated time of 9 pm, people turned off lights at their homes while lamps and candles lit up the streets as people stood in their balconies and at entrance doors in unison. Fireworks, sounds from beating of thalis, conches, whistles and police sirens were heard.
शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसंपदा ।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते ॥ pic.twitter.com/4DeiMsCN11— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2020
At many places the air resonated with the sounds of devotional songs, mantras and national anthem, in scenes similar to the ones seen across the country on March 22 when Modi had sought to rally Indians by asking them to come out briefly at 5 pm to show gratitude to health and other essential service providers.
President Ram Nath Kovind along with wife Savita, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his wife Ushamma, several Union ministers including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, BJP patriarch L K Advani and prominent personalities from various fields including Bollywood too lighted diyas and candles.
Modi, who had on Friday urged people to turn off lights at their homes for nine minutes at 9pm to display the country’s collective resolve and solidarity to defeat the virus, posted on Twitter his own pictures of lighting lamp.
People continued to stay outside while maintaining social distancing much beyond the nine minutes. In some pockets, Diwali seemed to have arrived months earlier.
Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan lit a diya along with AIIMS doctors and staff, whom he calls ‘Corona warriors’, at the Delhi campus.
‘Let the brightness of the lights ignite our energies and ensure the ‘victory of good over evil. My prayers go out for all those million homes across the planet who are suffering because of coronavirus. I call upon them all to be a part of this symbolic war over evil forces,’ he said.
The Prime Minister had asked people to clap or beat thalis on March 22 for five minutes at 5pm while observing ‘janta curfew’ from 7am to 9pm to thank those working in essentials services, and had received an unprecedented and overwhelming response.
The nine-minute lights-out event on Sunday night went off well without any disruption in the electricity grid after the government and utilities put in place elaborate plans to deal with the sudden drop and then a quick spurt in demand.
Several opposition leaders had expressed concern that the event could result in grid collapse.
Jaikishan, 42, a rickshaw puller in Jangpura in Delhi, said he made diyas of wheat flour and lit them hoping the situation will normalise soon and crores of others like him will be able to sail through the crisis.
Aparna Goel, a chartered accountant, said besides lighting diyas and candles, people in her locality played songs like ‘Ae Malik Tere Bande Hum’ and ‘Humko Mann ki Shakti Dena’.
‘Crores of people are doing it at the same time. It has connected all of us in one thread. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder in these times of crisis. we are one. India is one,’ she said.
In Tamil Nadu, people lit up the traditional ‘Kamakshi lamps’ and ‘Kuthuvilakku’, besides the earthen lamps.
The terraces of several buildings were lined up with endless rows of earthen lamps which was nothing short of a visual treat Governor Banwarilal Purohit lit a candle after switching off lights of the Raj Bhavan here for nine minutes. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, while maintaining distance , lit an earthen lamp at his residence.
Also, Deputy Chief Minister K Pannerselvam, Tamil Nadu Ministers including S P Velumani and K Pandiarajan lit lamps in their respective residences here.
Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev lit the lamp at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.
Superstar Rajinikanth was among the celebrities who joined the symbolic event against the contagion and he held a candle in his Poes Garden residence.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lighted lamps in Bhopal. At some places, people also raised slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lit lamps at arranged in the shape of ‘Om’.
Prominent personalities such as NCP chief Sharad Pawar, family of renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar, actor Amitabh Bachchan as well as several oher actors and celebrities too responded to the PM’s call in Maharashtra.
Navjeevan Express (navjeevanexpress.com) compiled twitter posts of Vice President, State Governors, Chief Ministers’ and celebrities lighting lamp in their residences across the nation.
Joining the citizens across the country, the Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu and his spouse Smt. Ushamma lit lamps at Uparashtrapati Bhavan at 9 pm tonight. #9pm9minutes #COVID19 #IndiaFightsCorona #Covid19India pic.twitter.com/Jjqv65Solu
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) April 5, 2020
#9बजे9मिनट #9pm9minute pic.twitter.com/204bKEX19Y
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) April 5, 2020
A ray of hope and belief can brighten the darkest times.
On PM @narendramodi ji’s clarion call, have switched off the lights at my home and lit diyas.
India stands firmly with PM @narendramodi in this fight against COVID-19. #9pm9minute pic.twitter.com/I0bazNXaiN
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) April 5, 2020
At home, 9pm: lighting diyas for some moments of mindfulness and thinking of our community, even as we work day and night as one nation. #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/o9gZvNXTfE
— Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) April 5, 2020
மாண்புமிகு தமிழக முதல்வர் @CMOTamilNadu அவர்கள் பாரதப் பிரதமர் @PMOIndia அவர்களின் வேண்டுகோளுக்கு இணங்க முகாம் அலுவலகத்தில் குடும்பத்தினருடன் அகல் விளக்கு மற்றும் மெழுகுவர்த்தி மூலம் ஒளியேற்றினார்கள். #9PM9minute #Corona #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/PKhI6lviO7
— AIADMK IT WING – Say No To Drugs & DMK (@AIADMKITWINGOFL) April 5, 2020
A billion prayers for humanity to heal. #9Minute9baje Thanku @PMOIndia for uniting the country and leading it with grit and determination. pic.twitter.com/BENHnMjB7C
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) April 5, 2020
Hon’ble Governor Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan along with Lady Governor Smt Suprava Harichandan & entire staff of Raj Bhavan lit candles at #9PmFor9Minutes as mark of solidarity, hope & strength. Governor said this will raise spirit who are fighting against #corona #9baje9mintues pic.twitter.com/CmRJxRjlDO
— governorap (@governorap) April 5, 2020
Joining the nation in manifesting the power of unity by lighting a spark of hope. Let's stand as one in the battle against #COVID19Pandemic pic.twitter.com/nGJdFBT3rK
— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) April 5, 2020
#IndiaFightsCoronavirus#LightForIndia#9pm9minute pic.twitter.com/O32q4XzNbR
— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@DrTamilisai4BJP) April 5, 2020
భారతదేశంలో కరోనా వ్యాప్తి నివారణకు జరుగుతున్న ఐక్య పోరాటానికి సంఘీభావ సంకేతంగా ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ కేసీఆర్ ప్రగతి భవన్ లో జ్యోతిని వెలిగించారు. ప్రధానమంత్రి శ్రీ @narendramodi ఇచ్చిన పిలుపుమేరకు రాత్రి 9 గంటల నుంచి 9 నిమిషాల పాటు సీఎం కొవ్వొత్తి వెలిగించారు. #9MinutesForIndia #diyas pic.twitter.com/okOBjKdRX5
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) April 5, 2020
Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan along with Smt Reshma Arif lighting the lamp at Kerala Raj Bhavan to express solidarity with the front line warriors in India's fight against Covid19. #LightsOfHope #LightForIndia #KeralafightsCorona #IndiaFightsCOVID19 pic.twitter.com/lgwjYfL8H8
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) April 5, 2020
ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಶ್ರೀ ನರೇಂದ್ರ ಮೋದಿ ಅವರು ನೀಡಿದ ಕರೆಯಂತೆ, ಕತ್ತಲಿಂದ ಬೆಳಕಿನೆಡೆಗೆ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ಯುವ ಸಂಕೇತವಾದ ದೀಪವನ್ನು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಶ್ರೀ @BSYBJP ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನಿವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸದಸ್ಯರೊಡನೆ 9 ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ 9 ನಿಮಿಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಬೆಳಗಿಸಿದರು.#KarnatakaFightsCorona#IndiaFightsCorona#SaluteCOVIDFighters pic.twitter.com/vrhldu1tlw
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) April 5, 2020
#StayHomeStaySafe #Solidarity #Unity #IndiaFightsCoronavirus 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/4LSSsfpVFa
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 5, 2020
प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के आह्वान पर आज रात 9 बजे अपने आवास पर लाइट्स को बंद कर दीप प्रज्वलित किए।
#9PM9minute#IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/s8dYfDLQfw
— Vijay Rupani (Modi Ka Parivar) (@vijayrupanibjp) April 5, 2020
