Chennai, Apr 6 (IANS): Heeding the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people here and in other places in Tamil Nadu switched off their home lights and lit traditional lamps, candles and switched on their mobile phone flashlights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday.

The power grid did not face any problem in the state.

People lit the small traditional oil lamps made of mud and kept them outside their homes, similar to the Karthigai Deepam festival celebrated during the Tamil month Karthigai.

Some also lit firecrackers perhaps to chase the coronavirus demon.

Modi had earlier appealed to the nation to switch-off the electric lights at 9 p.m. on Sunday for nine minutes and light lamps, candles or switch on flashlights in mobile phones.

"It is really nice to do this. Perhaps this is also an opportunity to see people outside," Bhavana a resident of Mylapore said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam lit lamps at their homes.

Tamil movie superstar Rajinikanth also stood outside his residence here holding a candle. Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy too lit a lamp outside his home.

"The power grid is absolutely normal across the state," Vikram Kapur, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd told IANS after the switch off and switch on of lights.

Earlier he had said the state would experience a demand dip of about 1,200 MW due to switching off of the lights.

He said the power utilities will step down hydel power generation to the extent of 1,000 MW and 100 MW each of thermal and gas power stations.