Claps, Plates, Conch Shells and Crackers Pierce Through 'Janata Curfew' as India Thanks Its Heroes

Prime Minister Modi thanked the people for the gesture.

Taking to Twitter, he said it is an expression of gratitude by the people and also the sound of the bugle declaring the first success in the long battle ahead.

Earlier, he had reminded people to express their gratitude towards those who have been at the forefront of combating coronavirus, and extending essential services without fearing for their safety.

Modi had asked people to express gratitude to them by giving them a five-minute standing ovation at 5 pm on Sunday by clapping hands, beating plates or ringing bells.

Top BJP leaders, including its president J P Nadda, Union ministers like Rajnath Singh and Dharmendra Pradhan, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated along with their family members and staff.

In Chennai, AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami joined his cabinet colleagues and top officials who clapped to show their appreciation for doctors, paramedics, sanitary and health department personnel.

For five minutes, lakhs of Mumbaikars stood in balconies, windows and on terraces of their houses and clapped their hands, banged plates and pans to salute those participating the war against coronavirus. For several enthusiastic Mumbaikars, the clapping started way before the 5 pm start time set by Modi. Many were seen clapping beyond the stipulated five minutes.

Another wrote, "A lot of folks living in Mumbai: Balcony? Which balcony?" Another post read, "Was looking forward to standing on my balcony and clapping, but I live in Mumbai..oh well #jantacurfew"

Another Twitter user added, "I dont have a balcony. Where do I go with my thaali?! #Mumbai."

In Chennai, people came together and clapped hands amid the "Janta Curfew" to honour those in the public services who are combating the spread of coronavirus. People living in apartment complexes stood in their balconies while several came to road junctions across the city and elsewhere briefly to clap hands and cheer the personnel connected to combating the virus. Also, several played select tunes on their mobile phones as a mark of honour.

Telangana, too, reverberated with clapping sounds with Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao leading the state in applauding healthcare providers. Sounds of clapping, blowing of conch shells, beating utensils and chiming bells and whistles echoed through the state as people from all walks of life participated. Some of them also raised slogans hailing doctors and the police department and called for stopping the spread of coronavirus.