Coronavirus: Diwali comes early as Mangaluru comes out to light diyas, torches, lamps

MANGALURU: As clock struck 9pm, this coastal city kept its tryst with 540 seconds of lights out in line with call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the national fight against the coronavirus outbreak. Flats went dark and glow of lamps that people lit on their balconies gave a feel of Diwali having come to town early. But for the soothing moonlight shimmering down and streetlights on, it was near total #9baje9minutes that trended on Twitter.
In Gandhinagar area, a core residential hub, chorus of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ rent from the dark silhouette of Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath’s house.Aglow with lamps lit, the national fervor from the household of BJP MLAs house was palpable. Lamps shimmered from households in the area and was pretty sight to watch in a total dark background. Prayers from households too rent the air as people sought divine intervention in this crisis.
In Mangala Devi, in a show of solidarity, most people lit diyas, candles. Social distancing norm was maintained, and the overt enthusiasm seen during #JantaCurfew was missing. In few areas people were seen waving torch lights from balconies and terraces. At Kapikad, a family lit a row of diyas on the traditional wooden rack used to light lamps during Diwali. Passageways of flats presented the most colourful look with diyas and candles lit in a row.
And amplifying the event was social media that was abuzz with what households across the district did in response to the PMs call. One such captivating image that of a house in Kaithrodi near Rayee in Bantwal taluk with the façade resplendent with glow of diyas. Entrepreneur Sumith Rao said, “I lit the lamp in solidarity with the nation. If only at least in times of crisis our nation unites and continues in peace time, our nation can really be a superpower.”