Ahmedabad: Candles, earthen lamps show glimmer of hope and positivity

TNN | Updated: Apr 6, 2020, 06:14 IST

People stand on their balconies and light candles and oil lamps after PM Modi appealed to Indians to turn out their lights for nine minutes at 9pm

People stand on their balconies and light candles and oil lamps after PM Modi appealed to Indians to turn out ...Read More

AHMEDABAD: Responding to the call for switching off the lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday, lakhs of Amdavadis celebrated the occasion as a show of solidarity in the fight against Covid-19 and their faith in overcoming this phase.
In Satellite and Anandnagar areas, it was a near-blackout with the twinkling lights of rows of earthen lamps, fairy lights and candles shining bright in the dark, reminiscent of Diwali festivities. Several societies also played patriotic songs and raised slogans. It was an atmosphere of Diwali as firecrackers were also burst in various areas of Ahmedabad.
“We are doing our bit to aid the PM in the fight against Covid-19. By lighting diyas (earthen lamps), we have expressed our solidarity with India fighting and overcoming this challenge,” said Pallavi Patel, a resident of Vastrapur.
Ahmedabad is one of the hotspots of Covid-19 spread identified by the central government with 53 positive cases and 5 deaths. Several areas are already under quarantine due to high concentration of cases. Dharti Gandhi, a resident of Vejalpur, said that all members of her residential society had decided to switch off lights including central amenities for nine minutes. “I know it’s not about overcoming the pandemic – it’s about a show of solidarity,” she said.