New Delhi, April 5 -- Responding to the call of PM Narendra Modi during his Friday morning video address to the nation, people across India on Sunday lighted candles and diyas and switched off the lights for nine minutes at 9 pm to show their unity in the fight against COVID-19.

People could be seen standing on their balconies and verandas with candles, lanterns and diyas (earthen lamps) to show their unity in the fight against the disease.While some opposition parties like the Congress and many of Modi critics had ridiculed the call of the Prime Minister, people by and large responded spontaneously and many burst firecrackers to pay their tribute to those in the front lines of fight against Covid-19.From India's health minister Harsh Va...