‘The Last Time India Felt United’: Social Media Erupts With ‘Go Corona Go’ Memes On Lockdown’s 5th Anniversary
March 2025 marks 5 years of Janata Curfew, a symbolic fight against COVID-19. From "Go Corona Go" chants to global tributes, social media revisits lockdown memories and the impact of the pandemic.
March 2025 marks five years since the world began battling COVID-19 following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of the pandemic. In India, the first major step to curb the virus's spread was the Janata Curfew, a historic day remembered for its unique and symbolic public participation. Citizens across the country clapped, banged utensils, and lit lamps in a display of solidarity and resilience, even chanting "Go Corona Go" in an effort to keep spirits high.
5 Years of Janata Curfew
22nd March was just another day but this day was solely remembered for the Janta curfew which started 5 years on that very day. Citizens across the country clapped, banged utensils, and lit lamps in a display of solidarity and resilience, even chanting "Go Corona Go" in an effort to keep spirits high. As Saturday marks the fifth anniversary of the Janata Curfew, social media has been flooded with memories from the COVID-19 days. Among the many recollections, the viral ‘Go Corona Go’ meme has resurfaced, sparking nostalgia and discussions online.
Internet Remembers ‘Go Corona Go’ Meme
Recalling the early days of the virus outbreak, social media users took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share their thoughts and reflections. Many users made video edits of the whole lockdown which starts with PM Narendra Modi announcing the lockdown, and after that it shows whatever happened in that time.
Check Out the Viral Video
But amidst all this, the video of a boy banging utensils like a drummer again went viral on social media. He was enjoying all that, but at the end her father pulled him inside.
Watch it till the end.👋👋 pic.twitter.com/H2W3rXvrTV
— Dhakkan Rice (@Sahil_Adhikaari) March 22, 2020
One user posted, “What a day. The last time India felt united. Need season 2 soon.”
What a day. The last time India felt united. Need season 2 soon. https://t.co/PwSkQLsPjK
— babu bisleri (@baabuOP) March 23, 2025
Another added, “Only occasion since 1947, where almost entire country rallied up to combat with this deadly and unknown virus under strong leadership of our visionary price minister. This act had so much symbolic power that it kept people strong and knowing that we were all in this together."
A more reflective post read, “Just 5 years ago on this day life changed temporarily into a situation which we or our previous generations had never experienced before! #COVID”
The post continued, “Lockdown 2020 rewind! ✨
Best part was spending time with the family, playing traditional games, cooking with whatever available with no luxury at home, some discipline, doing our own household chores without depending on anyone..
Lockdown taught us the reality of life!”
Lockdown 2020 rewind! ✨
— Shilpa (@shilpa_cn) March 22, 2025
Best part was spending time with the family, playing traditional games, cooking with whatever available with no luxury at home, some discipline, doing our own household chores without depending on anyone..
Lockdown taught us the reality of life! pic.twitter.com/EWT04g8qHV
Another video was a compilation of all the bollywood celebs who were in the balcony with some plates, rings, and clapping for the corona warriors. The event saw participation from Bollywood celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and Deepika Padukone, along with political figures including Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, all joining in to express solidarity.
Lockdown anniversary 🥹pic.twitter.com/PtOuuppOlK
— Lala (@FabulasGuy) March 22, 2025
This trend of praising the COVID warriors was not limited to India only. Similar gestures were seen in other countries as well, including Italy, Spain, and the UK, where people clapped and banged utensils to honor their frontline workers.
तीन देशों के वीडियो है इटली स्पेन और UK उन्होंने भी अपने कोविड वारियर्स के सम्मान में ताली थाली बजाई।
— Lala (@FabulasGuy) March 22, 2025
अपने देश का मजाक कांग्रेसी ही उड़ा सकते हैं। https://t.co/adhCoIyFbi pic.twitter.com/sgE46HfTXa
The slogan “Go Corona Go” was coined by Ramdas Athawale in February 2020 during a public event in Mumbai. Chanted at the Gateway of India alongside the Chinese Consul General and Buddhist monks, it symbolized the fight against COVID-19 and quickly went viral. This term got famous in no time and everyone started using it.
Just tell it to leave.... Why didn't anyone think of that before? #CoronagoCorona presented by our Minister for Social Justice and Chinese Consul-General in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/1VZemyPYOu
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) March 10, 2020
First COVID Lockdown in India
India’s Janata Curfew was a voluntary nationwide lockdown initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat the spread of COVID-19. From 7 AM to 9 PM, citizens were urged to stay indoors. At 5 PM, people across the country participated in clapping, banging utensils, and ringing bells as a tribute to frontline workers fighting the pandemic.
The Global COVID-19 Impact
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 778 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded worldwide. India alone reported approximately 45 million cases, while China, the country where the outbreak originated, recorded 99.4 million cases, according to WHO data.
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