Millions of Indians turned off their lights and lit up balconies and doorsteps with lamps, candles and flashlights on Sunday, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to “challenge the darkness” spread by the coronavirus crisis.
This included celebrities from all over the nation, who didn’t shy away from posting images of themselves lighting up on social media.
Modi, who imposed a three-week long nationwide lockdown on March 25, asked all citizens to turn out their lights for nine minutes at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, and to display lamps and candles in a show of solidarity.
The Prime Minister individually thanked several citizens including celebrities for extending support to his call for a nine-minute lights out.
Thank you, @mammukka. A heartfelt call for unity and brotherhood like yours is what our nation needs in the fight against COVID-19. #9pm9minute https://t.co/hjGjAwPvsZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2020
Other celebrities also showed their support by lighting a lamp as the clock turned 9.
View this post on InstagramThe Nation stands strong and together. This too shall pass.. WE will over come .
In Tamil Nadu, people lit up the traditional ‘Kamakshi lamps’ and ‘Kuthuvilakku’, besides the earthen lamps.
View this post on InstagramLet there be light ! Standing in solidarity, unity and brotherhood ! Together, we shall over come !
The terraces of several buildings were lined up with endless rows of earthen lamps which was nothing short of a visual treat
The wound is the place where the light enters you 🌏
-RumiLighting the feeling of hope, positivity and strength with my family. We are all in this together!
#IndiaFightsCorona #9pm9minutes #StayHomeStaySafe #Heal pic.twitter.com/xaJMIFBn2B— Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) April 5, 2020
Also, Deputy Chief Minister K Pannerselvam, Tamil Nadu Ministers including S P Velumani and K Pandiarajan lit lamps in their respective residences here.
Superstar Rajinikanth was among the celebrities who joined the symbolic event against the contagion and he held a candle in his Poes Garden residence.
#StayHomeStaySafe #Solidarity #Unity #IndiaFightsCoronavirus 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/4LSSsfpVFa
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 5, 2020
Others lit firecrackers, played musical instruments, and sang patriotic songs. Grid data showed India’s national power consumption plunging more than a quarter in a matter of minutes. The show of unity came as the total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 3,577, while the death toll rose to 83.
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