Delhi: Diwali seemed to come several months early this year, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a symbolic show of solidarity against coronavirus through light Sunday became a larger than life event.
Lamp lighting gave way to photo shoots, diyas led to firecrackers, and for a moment one forgot there was a pandemic around the world. Here’s how Twitter reacted to last night’s “festivities”.
The man of the moment, PM Narendra Modi, flagged off the evening, sharing images of him lighting lamps.
शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसंपदा ।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते ॥ pic.twitter.com/4DeiMsCN11— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2020
Many of his party colleagues, such as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, MP Swapan Dasgupta and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, also joined in.
At home, 9pm: lighting diyas for some moments of mindfulness and thinking of our community, even as we work day and night as one nation. #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/o9gZvNXTfE
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 5, 2020
— Swapan Dasgupta (@swapan55) April 5, 2020
Two diyas – one for me and the other for my 88 year old mother who could not be at the door.
Joining an expression of mass solidarity. India stands united as never before.
Jai Hind#9pm9minute pic.twitter.com/Ul7YjMpHNk— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 5, 2020
Thanking the #SanitationWarriors
India’s sports community were vocal in their support, with Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif and Rohit Sharma thanking the selfless personnel fighting the pandemic and asking people not to go out on the streets to celebrate.
My family & I thank the selfless #SanitationWarriors cleaning our surroundings & hospitals, disinfecting affected areas & thus keeping the virus at bay. Let’s also reignite our pledge to take care of our elders, the most vulnerable – by ensuring their physical & mental wellness. pic.twitter.com/tTheS9oO4I
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 5, 2020
To, all the doctors, medical staff, sanitation workers, govt. employees, police and army personnel, media personnel, bankers, essentials’ shopkeepers and all other warriors fighting #COVID19
We are in your debt and ever thankful. 🙏🏻
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳#9baje9minute #9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/eD3EW1ZISj
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 5, 2020
Stay indoors India, don’t go out on the streets celebrating. World Cup is still some time away 🙏
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) April 5, 2020
Badminton champ P.V. Sindhu also chimed in.
#letstogetherfightcovid19#9pm9min🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/oCvFSWLN83
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) April 5, 2020
‘Reminiscent of an IPL match’
US scholar Michael Kugelman was quick to point out that the symbol of solidarity through candlelight had somehow turned into a show of fireworks…
It appears that Modi's call for India to turn off the lights in an effort to promote solidarity has caused a lot of fireworks. Literally.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) April 5, 2020
For Samir Saran, ORF President, it was rather reminiscent of an IPL match.
#IPL stock used … #Firecrackers
— Samir Saran (@samirsaran) April 5, 2020
Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor was also perplexed by the crackers.
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
But Hindi film veteran Amitabh Bachchan was fascinated with what India’s “aerial view” looked like…before Congress leader Salman Nizami pointed out it was a fake image.
The World sees us .. we are ONE .. https://t.co/68k9NagfkI
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 5, 2020
And this is FAKE, sojao sir 😂
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) April 5, 2020
For South Indian film superstar Rajinikanth, the evening was a moment of solidarity and unity.
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 5, 2020
‘Minds of people have been officially enslaved’
Congress members Srivatsa Y.B. and Gaurav Pandhi were highly unimpressed with the night’s proceedings, as they alleged it proved a collective loss of scientific temperament.
Srivatsa posted a series of tweets highlighting the violation of lockdown rules across the country by people “celebrating” the night.
Breaking News : UNESCO has just declared India's Prime Minister as the best Event Management expert in the world.
Go Corona, Corona Go… pic.twitter.com/91UkNHmIDj
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) April 5, 2020
This man has brought down the scientific temper of country like never before. The minds of people have been officially enslaved to have been bursting crackers and celebrate as if it's a festival and we are not in the midst of a deadly pandemic. I feel sorry for my country! 🇮🇳
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) April 5, 2020
Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill took part in the lamp lighting, but also voiced his criticism of the government — in a rather unique way.
9 diyas-Lit up 1 Diya for “Motivation”,1 in memory of lives claimed by #Covid_19– 7 when Govt focuses on “Preparation”:
1.Testing Kits+
2.PPE+
3. Free Testing
4.Quarantine Beds+
5.Relief forLabourers
6. Loan Waiver on EMI for salaried class
7.Employment protection#9baje9mintues pic.twitter.com/pkdgG8ikQn— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) April 5, 2020
Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma also took the opportunity to light up…but not quite in the way you would expect.
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 5, 2020
‘This is my country’
Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya tried to push aside naysayers by pointing out how inclusive the show of solidarity against coronavirus really was.
ये मेरा देश है… #9pm9minute pic.twitter.com/LcA5qxWCAL
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 5, 2020
Did it actually work, asked former J&K Chief Omar Abdullah, in a sarcastic tweet.
Corona gone?
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 5, 2020
Janata Dal leader and former Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy had a more pressing concern: Was the evening chosen for the lamp lighting coinciding with the eve of the founding date of the BJP a coincidence?
Has the PM slyly asked the nation to observe a candle light vigil on the eve of foundation day of BJP? April 6 being its foundation day, what else can explain the choice of date & time for this event? I challenge the PM to offer a credible scientific and rational explanation.
1/3— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) April 5, 2020
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