COVID-19: India turns off lights, puts out diyas

April 05, 2020 21:05

People around the country switched off non-essential lights and stood in the balconies and verandas of their house with candles, lanterns and diyas (earthen lamps) tonight, following a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "challenge the darkness spread by the coronavirus crisis".

Across major cities, towns and villages, people confined to their homes by the PM's 21-day "total lockdown" lit up the night sky with a display of light meant to signify the country's collective will to contain the highly infectious novel coronavirus.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu participated in the event, as did a number of senior political leaders and celebrities.

On Friday the PM urged people to turn off lights, stand in their balconies and hold candles, diyas, and even mobile phone flashlights, for nine minutes in a nationwide show of solidarity.

This was the second "collective display" to show unity in the fight against the virus requested by the Prime Minister since the lockdown started.

He had earlier asked people to stand outside houses and in balconies and clap, or bang utensils together, for five minutes at 5 pm to celebrate medical staff involved in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

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