Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested citizens to switch off all lights of their houses today at 9 pm for 9 minutes on Sunday. (Photo: India Today/Rajesh Revankar)

Residents of the national capital on Sunday night joined people across the country in expressing India's resolve to collectively fight Covid-19 , lighting up diyas, candles and flashing torchlight from mobile phones in a symbolic gesture of solidarity following the prime minister's call.

Much before the designated time of 9 pm, people switched off lights at their homes while lamps and candles lit up the streets as people stood in their balconies and at entrance doors in unison.\

Tamil Nadu: Residents of a society in Chennai Central have turned off lights of their houses, following the call by PM Modi to switch off all lights of houses today at 9 PM for 9 minutes&just light a candle, 'diya' or mobile's flashlight, to mark the fight against #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/c1O7oU0ewf ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2020

Fireworks, thalis, whistles and police sirens were heard. At some places, Hindu devotional songs, mantras and national anthem were also played.

#WATCH Delhi: PM Narendra Modi lights a lamp after turning off all lights at his residence. India switched off all the lights for 9 minutes at 9 PM today & just lit a candle, 'diya', or flashlight, to mark India's fight against #Coronavirus as per his appeal. pic.twitter.com/9PVHDlOARw ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday urged the people to switch off the lights of their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.

Take a look at how #Gujarat came together to show its solidarity against the #COVID19 global pandemic.



We’re all in this together and together we are stronger.#9pm9minutes #99 #9baje9mintues pic.twitter.com/WZSsnW9bix PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) April 5, 2020

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu turns off all the lights of his residence & lights earthen lamps. PM had appealed to the nation to switch off all lights of houses today at 9 PM for 9 minutes, & just light a candle, 'diya', or flashlight, to mark India's fight against #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/6NEO4H683i ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2020

The overall death toll in the country due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 83 and the cases climbed to 3,577 on Sunday after 505 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry.

India has been on a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 65,000 lives globally since the epidemic first emerged in China in December.

Lucknow: UP CM Yogi Adityanath lights earthen lamps to form an 'Om', at his residence. PM Modi had appealed to the nation to switch off all lights of houses today at 9 PM for 9 minutes, and just light a candle, 'diya', or flashlight, to mark India's fight against #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/QXrj2oTsVu ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 5, 2020

West Bengal: Guv Jagdeep Dhankhar turns off all the lights of his residence & lights earthen lamps. PM had appealed to the nation to switch off all lights of houses today at 9 PM for 9 minutes, & just light a candle, 'diya', or flashlight, to mark India's fight against #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/hoA3aHiKTM ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2020

On March 22, millions of people across the country had coming out briefly at 5 pm to show gratitude to health and other essential service providers with sounds of bells, conches and claps following the prime minister's call after staying indoor during a 'Janta curfew' to help check the spread of coronavirus.

IndiaToday.in has plenty of useful resources that can help you better understand the coronavirus pandemic and protect yourself. Read our comprehensive guide (with information on how the virus spreads, precautions and symptoms), watch an expert debunk myths, check out our data analysis of cases in India, and access our dedicated coronavirus page. Get the latest updates on our live blog.