Why is India Celebrating The Fight Against COVID-19?

Has Covid-19 Become a Festival in India?
PM asked Indians to light candles and diyas for 9 minute at 9 pm on Sunday.
Has Covid-19 Become a Festival in India?
PM asked Indians to light candles and diyas for 9 minutes at 9 pm on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a much-anticipated nationwide lockdown for 21 days on starting from March 25. This meant all normal activities (majorly movement and crowd gathering) stopped for everyone. 

Has Coronavirus become a festival?

Since the lockdown, the PM has taken many initiatives to keep government operations running and to bring people together to thank the frontline warriors such as medical professionals and police personnel. From Janta Curfew to lighting candles yesterday at 9 PM for 9 mins, Narendra Modi has triggered a series of debates in India around the efficacy of such initiatives with some people even questioning the logic of such actions. 

Some of the comments centring around such debates are :

  1. How diyas and candles are helpful to save us from Corona.
  2. Its making fun of yourself.
  3. People are spending on drugs and medicines outside India and Indians are wasting their time on such acts. 

There are also a lot of people coming up with the opinion that the Prime Minister should have said more on the status of COVID-19 in the country than to call for a clarion call or lighting diyas. Looking 

Be truth be said, we Indians are enjoying and celebrating this act of togetherness. So now, the question arises, is coronavirus pandemic becoming a festival in India? Why are we celebrating the fight against it?

Here is why India should celebrate the fight against coronavirus: 

1. Expression of solidarity

When PM Modi gave a clarion call on March 22, the whole nation came out to support in unison with the leader as they banged on their plates and clapped and blew the conch shells. When he asked the country to light a candle, diya or torch and pray for the fight against coronavirus by putting out the lights in the houses for 9 mins at 9 PM on April 5, the whole country did so. 

This is not an act of mere obeisance. It is a country brought together against a challenge. 

Is the lighting of Diyas, Candles or Torch beneficial?

Well, there are various reasons which can be attributed to this fact, and it is impactful as well. 

The Prime Minister had said, “On April 5, all Indians light a lamp to challenge the crisis of Corona from the darkness.” There are many benefits of lighting a lamp in astrology and burning the lamp removes all the negativity. The perceived benefits are :

a) Diya is a symbol of self-confidence – In Hindus, Diyas are traditionally used to celebrate any important festival. Diya is essential in Hinduism because it signifies purity, goodness, good luck and power. The presence of light means the non-existence of darkness and evil forces.

b) In Christianity, the candle is commonly used in worship both for decoration and ambience, and as a symbol that represents the light of God or, specifically, the light of Christ. The altar candle is often placed on the altar, usually in pairs.

c) Enthusiasm is powerful, there is no greater force than enthusiasm. There is nothing rare in the world for an enthusiastic man. Jyoti (light) is said to be the best, and it is considered to be the one to defeat sins.

2. Purpose it serves

In times of gloom and negativity all around, what helps is the leadership spreading the message of positivity and brightness. India is probably one of the few countries where happiness class (in the school curriculum) is mandated. When the US President came to India, his wife Melania Trump, especially came to see those happiness class.

3. India is different than the world

India is happily accepting this problem, and yes by way of this criteria, India is positive and probably showcasing to the world also as to how to remain happy and positive even if the times are not so good.

Related Links:

Just Facts – Coronavirus in India

Preventive Measures Against Coronavirus