Prime Minister Modi, in his previous video message to the nation, urged citizens to switch off the lights of their homes and light candles, diyas, or torches for 9 minutes at 9 PM on March 5 to “overcome the darkness” that surrounds us during this pandemic.
According to a report by News18, millions of families across the country participated in this act and lit candles, diyas, and their mobile flashlights on their balconies, terraces, and doorsteps for 9 minutes last night.
People took to Twitter to share pictures of their candle-lit homes and expressed how India stands united in this tough time. Have a look:
We stand together !!
We stand strong !!
We stand with our PM Modi ji !!#9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/Y1MSOy2JR4— нαяιηαтн яє∂∂у ᴬᴬ (@harry_reddys) April 5, 2020
#9pm9minutes
India is going to win this fight.@narendramodi#9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/4Uq9jqQ6Sw— Chota Tarek Fatah (@Abhi_Rohila) April 5, 2020
#9बजे9मिनट
We are together!!!! pic.twitter.com/4c0SBSCb5F— अkhil पिllai (@AkhilPillai08) April 5, 2020
#9pm9minutes from Chennai! Solidarity’s it’s best; unfortunately some ppl polluted the air by bursting fireworks @narendramodi @PMOIndia @TimesNow @jsamdaniel @ndtv @News18CJ @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/69j6x2FWWr
— RitzWitz (@ritzwitz) April 5, 2020
Scene from a town close to AP-TN-KA border. #9PM9minutes pic.twitter.com/Cxji5DJKbm
— Whine-Yard (@HAX_u_ANYTIME) April 5, 2020
So positive it is…gives you energy…#9बजे9मिनट #9baje9mintues pic.twitter.com/VXBkJrCbXx
— Kumkum Binwal(ABP NEWS) (@Kumkum26) April 5, 2020
People on the internet are also loving pictures of Mumbai before and after #9PM9Minutes, reports Business Today. The first picture shows Mumbai perfectly lit up, and the second shows Mumbai after the lights were switched off.
Skyline in Mumbai before (pic 1) & after (pic 2) the residents turned off the lights of their houses. PM Modi had appealed to India to switch off all lights of houses today at 9 PM for 9 minutes, & just light a candle, 'diya', or flashlight, to mark India's fight against #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/KVmQt1Ngqj
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2020
According to a report by Hindustan Times, there were many who misunderstood the PM’s call as an opportunity to burst crackers and celebrate a mini-Diwali by bursting crackers.
Modiji requested to light diyas for 9 minutes , My neighborhood thought its diwali and burning fire crackers like crazy!!! #9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/NmH0QBhY4I
— Sambhav Gupta (@sambhavgupta6) April 5, 2020
Look at this Mini diwali guys! Aab dikhega tum logon ko Dhauladar and clean skies after all this crackers? What idiots man! #9baje9mintues pic.twitter.com/hHVRlQZxrz
— Subhashree Das (@Subhashreeds1) April 5, 2020
And as usual people celebrated like Diwali #9PM pic.twitter.com/EOhW6ctKGc
— $hivam जैन (@Shivam_2206) April 5, 2020
Ppl almost Celebrated Diwali 😕
We Indians are a Crazy bunch. #coronavirus #9pm9minutes pic.twitter.com/1UOG0UT4rd— Nikhil Siddhartha (@actor_Nikhil) April 5, 2020
Massive fire in a building in my neighborhood from bursting crackers for #9baje9mintues. Fire brigade just drove in. Hope everyone's safe. pic.twitter.com/NcyDxYdeFW
— Mahim Pratap Singh (@mayhempsingh) April 5, 2020
Several celebrities including Sonam Kapoor, Richa Chadha, and Rajdeep Sardesai took to Twitter to condemn those who were bursting crackers.
There was complete peace and quite, and now the birds ,dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight.
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020
People are bursting crackers. Just FYI . They dogs are freaking out. Do people think it’s Diwali? I’m so confused.
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020
Some people in my area now bursting crackers. What kind of utter nonsense is this. You have singularly mocked at PM’s appeal: this is not bloody Diwali but a solemn occasion. Spend money you just did on crackers on meals for the poor. Absolutely shameful. Sorry, just not done!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 5, 2020
Why crackers ? Why?
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 5, 2020
I am seeing some people on roads who are bursting fire-crackers.
Dear Delhi, when did the PM ask you to do this? Idea was to light a diya, say a prayer & not to pollute the air.
Aren't crackers burnt to celebrate? What are you celebrating? Lack of proper facilities for doctors?
— Saahil Murli Menghani (@saahilmenghani) April 5, 2020
Another video went viral on the internet where a BJP MLA in Telangana, Raja Singh, led a unique protest by gathering outdoors with his supporters, lighting torches, and shouting the slogan, “Go back, go back, Chinese virus go back”, reports News18. He hadn’t even covered his face with a mask.
Sequel to Go Corona Go is here. "Chinese Virus Go Back" Ft. Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Goshamahal, Hyderabad #9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/lxuQbGYflG
— No Show Rajneesh (@GochiwaleGuruji) April 5, 2020
धन्यवाद भारत 🇮🇳
धन्यवाद @narendramodi जी।#9pm9minutes #9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/03TuCFXqrn— Raja Singh (@TigerRajaSingh) April 5, 2020
In another rather hilarious incident, one guy in Bangalore participated in #9PM9Minutes by pretending to be a ghost, reports India Today. He walked in his balcony covered in a white bedsheet holding a candle while ‘Gumnaam Hai Koi’ played in the background!
Watch the video here:
HIT ME ON THE HEAD SOMEBODY BEFORE I LOSE IT 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/mqaXrv2TAl
— Noodlehead (@wack_a_noodle) April 5, 2020
While it is heartwarming to see the entire country coming together and standing in unity during the coronavirus pandemic, some people’s foolishness and ignorance sure do make us facepalm!
Let’s not forget how important it is for us to practice social distancing and abide by lockdown protocols, ensuring our safety and that of others.