‘Go corona go’: locked-down India lights up to mark virus fight
- Indians light candles and set off fireworks, answering PM Modi’s call to ‘defeat deep darkness’ of pandemic crisis
- Country has been under strict lockdown since March 25, halting public transport and closing offices and shops
Twinkling flames from candles and traditional lamps lit up India’s night sky on Sunday in a nine-minute show to mark the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which has left the vast nation in lockdown.
Across major cities and towns in the world’s second-most populous country of 1.3 billion people, many heeded the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn off their lights at 9pm local time.
Residents shouted “Hail mother India” and “go corona go”. They cheered, clapped, and set off firecrackers and fireworks that shattered the quiet evening, in scenes reminiscent of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
“Salute to the light of the lamp which brings auspiciousness, health and prosperity, which destroys negative feelings,” Modi tweeted in Sanskrit. He shared photos of himself lighting a “diya” clay lamp.
In a modern touch, some residents turned on the lights from their mobile phones.