Clap…Clap…Mangaloreans Clapped to Express Gratitude to Health Care Personnel on Sunday, who have been working day and night to combat Coronavirus/Covid-19. At 5 pm sharp, while many expressed their gratitude to the nation’s caregivers during this time of Covid-19 outbreak by clapping hands, or with instruments such as conches, small bells, jagate and tala (instruments used during prayers) and plates/spoons etc, many others violated the curfew by gathering or walking on the streets in groups and expressing their kind of gratitude in a different way?
Mangaluru: On Sunday, 22 March 2020, Dakshina Kannada district, including Mangaluru, wore a deserted look as people responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to observe “Janata Curfew” from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to contain the spread of COVID-19. All business establishments downed their shutters while public transport — buses, trains, auto-rickshaws, and taxis, also remained suspended throughout the day. This kind of Govt ordered curfew was the FIRST time that people experienced in their lifetime, and residents recalled, over a non-communal issue. The Indian Railways, meanwhile, announced the complete suspension of all kinds of passenger train services across the country till midnight on March 31.
For many, this lazy Sunday, became a Sunday of family time to get-together, for Catholics last Sunday morning was to watch Mass online on TV or computer, and for many others, it was spring cleaning. With few vehicles seen plying on the streets, the entire city was deserted. Bunch of stray dogs seeing the city so deserted, might have been wondering whether the Corporation had taken the people in trucks? Few fuel stations were open only to cater to vehicles involved in the delivery of essentials and emergency services. Even hospitals attended only to emergency cases. While residents put the forced confinement to good use-enlisting the entire family for house/apartment cleaning and other chores. Others found it a bonus quality time.
Temples were closed or requested devotees to stat away as a precautionary measure. Catholic churches had no Sunday masses, except for funeral mass which was conducted in a simple manner, with no procession, one being that of the mother of Rev Dr Robert Miranda, the Bishop of Kalaburagi diocese. Since Sunday mass was cancelled for the faithful, however, Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha along with a few clergies celebrated mass at Bishop’s House, which was live-streamed online. Meanwhile, tourist attractions, including popular beaches, did not see any footfall during the day. Temples restricted entry of devotees even for darshan.
Having sourced daily essentials the previous day itself, most of the people remained indoors throughout the day. And as per PM Modi’s suggestion, at 5 p.m., they came out to clap and ring bells as a mark of gratitude to the medical community and others who have been fighting COVID-19. Officers, sailors, civilians and their families at the Coast Guard Residential area in Kunjathbail also joined hands together at 5 p.m. to express gratitude to healthcare personnel and others. Nuns, Priests, Swamis and others also joined hands. All churches in the region rang bells at 5 p.m. as urged by Mangaluru Bishop Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha. So was the case with temples across the district where bells rang and hymns were recited.
The atmosphere was completely different, instead of loud honking from vehicles, one could hear the birds chirping, for a difference. Even MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, participated in the clapping movement, while MLA Vedavyas Kamath went a little crazier, where he not only started clapping at his residence but also connected his mobile phone with blue-tooth speakers and played the sound clip in full volume, which has gone viral. Even though the Janata Curfew was supposed to end at 9 pm, but unfortunately, the state government extended the lockdown from Sunday night until 31 march 2020. You never know, if things don’t change, we may see extended lock down days. So start praying, for better days ahead!
Following the success of Janata Curfew, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the of people of India for showing their gratitude to those who are serving others at the risk of getting infected by coronavirus themselves. “The nation thanks every citizen who is leading the fight against Coronavirus. My gratitude to the countrymen,” he tweeted. He said that this is just the beginning of nation’s victory march in a long battle against the deadly virus. Influencers and achievers from various fields and several organizations also voiced their support to the Janata Curfew.
Nice to see the smiling faces of the covidiots. PM’s emphasis on social distancing being mocked.