January 01,2018: The New year 2018 is being celebrated across the world today. People across metro cities in India thronged to landmark locations, malls and restaurants to celebrate the arrival of the New Year amid heavy security arrangements. Several historical landmarks were lit with bright coloured lights to mark the end of 2017 and to welcome 2018.
In the National Capital Delhi, People thronged to landmark locations, malls and restaurants to celebrate New Year 2018 amid heavy security cover and fire concerns raised by recent Mumbai pub blaze. Areas like Connaught Place, India Gate and Hauz Khas Village were crowded with people till late in the night. Heavy security measures were deployed to ensure safety and security of women and curb drunken driving. Police personnel kept an eye on trouble mongers and anti-social elements. Delhi Traffic Police had curbed all traffic from Connaught Place after 8 PM and issued route deviations for several other parts of the city.
Kolkatta, also known as city of joy, ushered in the New Year 2018, in its usual Grand Style. The centre of all festivity and revellary was the iconic Park street and bow-Baracks, the traditional seat of a large chunk of the Anglo-Indian community in the city. Pubs, Bars and Restaurant had their handsfull, and they tried to caters to as many customers as possible.
In Himachal Pradesh, the New Year was celebrated enthusiastically at various tourist places including capital Shimla. Despite severe cold wave, tourists took part in cultural functions at Ridge Maidan and hotels in Shimla till late last night. The tourists were hoping snowfall but the weather remained dry throughout in the state. AIR correspondent reports that Shimla city was looking beautiful in colourful lights in the night. The tourists and local people gathered at historic Ridge Maidan cheered as the clock showed zero zero hours in the mid night. Everyone present there greeted and wished each other for better future. Several tourists were forced to sleep in their vehicles as they did not get any room in hotel. Similarly, hundreds of vehicles were parked on different roadsides due to full of all parking’s.
In Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation buildings were lit up on the occasion. Some revellers welcomed 2018 in restaurants in the famous hill station Lonavala. Some party goers celebrated arrival of new year in Navi Mumbai, Thane, and at farm houses located near Mumbai.
In Tamil Nadu, the New Year has been welcomed by people with colourful Rangoli’s in front of their homes. Many offered New Year special prayers and exchanged greetings with their dear ones. AIR correspondent reports that tens of hundreds of people gathered at the iconic Marina Beach on the eve of the New Year and celebrated its dawn with cheers and revelry in Chennai. The shouts of them welcoming the New Year reached the skies when the clock struck 12 at night. Places of worship across the state were thronged by millions with the hope of beginning the New Year with divine blessings. The police kept a tight vigil at the Marina and the Elliot’s Beach and several other public places to ensure an incident-free celebration. They intensified their screenings for any drunken driving and asked the hotels to end their New Year programs by 1 am
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated New Year with ITBP officials and their family members at forward post at Matli, in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. He also interacted with the children and posed for photographs with them. Mr Rajnath Singh will today visit Nelong Valley at a height of 11,700 feet where temperature dips to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
President, Vice President and Prime Minister have greeted people on the occasion of New Year. In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind hoped that year 2018 will bring laughter, friendship and prosperity to all the families, to the country, and to the unique and beautiful planet.
In a message, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu called on people to collectively resolve to dedicate themselves towards building a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious society on the beginning of Year 2018.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, he prays that the year will bring joy, prosperity and good health in everyone’s lives.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani has also greeted people on New Year. In a tweet, Ms Irani hoped that the new year will bring endless joy and happiness to people.
New Zealand became the first country in the world to usher in the new year. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders took to streets and beaches, as the new year dawned in this southern hemisphere nation, fireworks boomed and crackled above city centres and harbours.
Australia rang in the New Year with a spectacular display of rainbow-coloured fireworks cascading from Sydney Harbour Bridge, as partygoers marked the nation’s legalisation of gay marriage amid tight security.
Hong Kong saw 2018 in spectacular style as the southern Chinese city staged a stunning fireworks display over its famous Victoria Harbour.
In the Indonesian capital Jakarta, hundreds of couples attended a free mass wedding.Celebrations also held in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. A storm warning and drizzle failed to dampen spirits on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, where thousands gathered for a light show and a fireworks display at the Arc de Triomphe. More than one lakh ticket-holders witnessed London’s firework display from the banks of the River Thames.’
Major boulevards and squares were decked up to welcome the new year in Moscow, with fireworks lighting up 36 key sites .Dubai held its main midnight fireworks with a laser show on the world’s tallest tower, the 828-metre Burj Khalifa.
In Africa, Cameroon President Paul Biya used the occasion to remind his citizens of their “duty” to “maintain republican order” as well as “social peace and national unity”.
The festivity will finally move to the Americas.
New York’s Times Square celebrations are set to go ahead despite the Arctic chill gripping much of the central and northeastern United States and Canada. (AIR NEWS)
