On Sunday, India turned off the lights for nine minutes at 9pm after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the nation on Friday and appealed to unite to "fight the darkness of the coronavoris pandemic".

In photo: PM Modi participates in the #9pm9minute initiative. (Narendra Modi/Twitter)

Speaking to the citizens via video conference, Modi had said, "On April 5, Sunday, at 9pm, I want 9 minutes from all of you. Turn off all the lights in your homes, stand at your doors and balconies and light candles, diyas or mobile flashlights for nine minutes."

(Photo: Narendra Modi/Twitter)

People from across Maharashtra responded enthusiastically to PM Modi's appeal by switching off lights in their premises for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday amid the national lockdown.

People lit candles, diyas and flashed lights of their mobile phones by standing in balconies of their houses.

Bollywood actor Ananya Pandey, along with her paents, also showed solidarity and lit candles on their balcony. 

Reliance chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani on Sunday night also lit candles to mark India's resilience to fight against COVID-19.

Ambanis lit candles and earthen lamps at their residence, Antilia, after switching off lights in their house for 9 minutes at 9pm.

Marathi Actress Smita Jaikar also joined the fight. PM Modi aimed to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.

Actress Rakul Preet lights a lamp at her balcony on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, some youths took out bike rallies in localities like Bandra, Juhu and Andheri flashing their headlights.

Rajnikanth also stood outside his home and joined the fight against the pandemic. 

The Mangeshkar family, too, responded to the Prime Minister's call. 

Meanwhile, in the residential burroughs of Thane, the suburb of Mumbai to the north also known as the dormitory town that supplies much of the workers that keep the financial
capital rolling, there was a near-complete observation of the light shutdown.

Traditional oil-lit lamps, usually used for auspicious occasions of Diwali, were also seen outside Holy Family hospital. 

Major cities such as Pune, which is the major IT hub in the state, as well as Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur also saw enthusiastic response from people. 

In Pune, many citizens switched off the lights and lit diyas or flashed torches inbuilt in their mobile phones. Some people even blew conchs while others shouted slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Go Corona Go'. Fire-crackers were burst at few places.

(Photo: AFP)

Residents stand at their balconies and light candles and flash mobile torches in support of PM Modi's initiative. (Photo: AFP)