The 9pm to 9.09pm blackout requested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has as expected turned into a festival of lights. Not only did people light candles and diyas, but they also decided that they would celebrate Diwali early by bursting crackers. Of course, we’re still tryng to comprehend where they managed to source the fireworks, but that is a different story. Also, do fireworks come in essential commodities?
The fireworks resulted in Diwali becoming the top trend on Twitter. Here is how people reacted
Imagine a person waking up from coma right now. It’s summer time, people are bursting crackers and chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jay”
He will go back to coma again.
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) 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
We are in the midst of a pandemic and people are celebrating Diwali. Bursting crackers too. No trace of pain of poor. Black comedy. #Hum_Light_Nahi_Bujhaenge
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) April 5, 2020
The way people are bursting crackers today, won’t be surprised if day after tomorrow they start celebrating Bhai Dooj too…#9pm9minutes
— The-Lying-Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 5, 2020
Stop the crackers please. Sounds like you’re celebrating the virus. Everyone bursting crackers amid a pandemic and a lockdown should be sent to Wuhan.
— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) April 5, 2020
India burns crackers to stop respiratory Covid-19 diseases!
A country of morons, for morons, run by a super moron!
— India Resists (@India_Resists) April 5, 2020
Lighting a lamp / Candle and saying a prayer, all of us together , to Allah, Jesus and Ram is fine, lot of positive energy, but crackers?!! We never learn!! Come on guys!! The Universe is telling us to stop abusing Nature & we again burst crackers & pollute environment?!!!
— Lakshmy Ramakrishnan (@LakshmyRamki) April 5, 2020
People are bursting crackers non stop. There goes my good AQI
— sunetra choudhury (@sunetrac) April 5, 2020
PM Narendra Modi also lit a lamp after turning off all lights at his residence.
#WATCH Delhi: PM Narendra Modi lights a lamp after turning off all lights at his residence. India switched off all the lights for 9 minutes at 9 PM today & just lit a candle, ‘diya’, or flashlight, to mark India’s fight against #Coronavirus as per his appeal. pic.twitter.com/9PVHDlOARw
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the nation at 9 am, a day after he spoke to all the chief ministers via video conferencing.
We need to move from hopelessness to hope, the PM added. “On April 5, we will all come together to give COVID-19 a message. All of us must come together at 9 pm on April 5 for nine minutes to shut their lights and come to your balconies to light a candle, torch or mobile flashlight and leave the rest of the lights off. This is our message that we are fighting COVID-19,” PM Modi said, adding that this will proof to show that nobody is alone. He, however, cautioned Indians to maintain social distancing while they lit the lamps.
