Go Corona Go! At 9 pm for 9 Min Citizens of Mangaluru Lit Diyas, Candles, flashlights, lighted mobile phones, etc to Show Solidarity & Confidence in fight against COVID-19, a call given by PM Narendra Modi
Mangaluru: In response to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, where he had appealed for a 9-minute blackout at 9 pm on Sunday, urging citizens to light a lamp, candle or shine a mobile flashlight during the period, majority of the Citizens of Mangaluru showed solidarity and confidence in our fight against the deadly Coronavirus or COVID-19.
In his message, Modi had reminded people to maintain social distancing norms while undertaking the exercise. “India is united in its fight against the corona pandemic”, Modi said in a video address on Friday, his third address since 19 March on COVID-19 that has now killed 66 Indians and infected 2,423. This is the second such exercise called for by Modi. On 22 March, the prime minister had asked citizens to clap, blow conch or ring bell for 5 minutes to commend the efforts of those fighting the pandemic.
“On the 5th of April, on Sunday, I want 9 minutes from all you, at 9 pm. Listen carefully, on the 5th of April, at 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your homes, stand at your doors or in your balconies, and light candles or diyas, torches or mobile flashlights for 9 minutes,” Modi said, adding that “At that time, if you have turned off all the lights of your homes, and each one of us in all directions has lit a diya; we will experience the superpower of light, clearly illuminating the common purpose we are all fighting for. In that light, in that luster, in that radiance, let us resolve in our minds that we are not alone, that no one is alone.”
And that’s exactly, a large number of Mangaloreans did in support of PM Modi’s call, by lighting candles, diyas, etc in front of their homes, and on apartment balconies, by switching off their lights only, but keeping their other appliances on. However, the symbolism related to PM Modi’s appeal took a turn when speculation over its effect on power grid and voltage across the country surfaced subsequently. With the sound of few crackers being burst, it felt like the festival of lights-but the fireworks lasted only for a few minutes, even though PM Modi had urged people not to go beyond the COVID-19 safety guidelines. All this comes after 22 March, when the sounds of Church bells, conches and claps that reverberated the city, and tonight once again Mangaloraens stood up to support the clarion call given by PM Modi by lighting diyas and candles in a show of “solidarity and confidence in our collective fight against” the novel coronavirus or COVID-19.
India has been in lockdown since 25 March, which will last until the 14 April as of now. Only essential services are allowed to function during the period because of which businesses have shut down and the country has almost ground to a halt. While the lockdown has affected all, for migrant workers it has been especially hard as it has taken away their chance at jobs and livelihood. Millions have been trudging to their villages and hometowns as living in urban centers becomes impossible with no wages and security.
Quoting the ancient text Ramayana PM Modi had said, “There is no greater force in the world than our passion and our spirit. That there is nothing in the world that we cannot achieve on the basis of this strength.” Hope today’s solidarity and confidence of citizens of Mangaluru fight against Coronavirus will bring positive results, and kill this deadly disease, once for all.
After all the drama number of cases and deaths have increased. Was the ‘andheri raat mein diya tere haath mein’ drama by the PM necessary?
I am glad that everyone in the nation and also who are in other places are a part of this initiative taken by our honorable prime minister. The presence of light means the non-existence of darkness and evil. This created positivity in many of them. We are quarantined all together. Thankyou for sharing the information.