World welcomed 2025 with grandeur and festivities, as dazzling fireworks, cultural performances

Newdelhi: January 1, 2025 :The world welcomed 2025 with grandeur and festivities, as dazzling fireworks, cultural performances, and joyous gatherings marked the beginning of a new chapter. The New Year travels across different time zones, starting with Kiribati in the Pacific and ending in American Samoa. From Sydney to London, celebrations reflected hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. New Zealand’s Auckland was among the first major cities to welcome the New Year, with thousands enjoying fireworks and light displays.

As the clock struck midnight in Sydney, Australia, the skies lit up with a breathtaking fireworks display over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. In Dubai, thousands attended a fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscrapers London defied weather concerns with a spectacular fireworks show on the banks of the River Thame.

New Year celebrations have begun in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Bermuda. Thousands of people gathered at New York’s Times Square, welcoming the New Year with cheers and dazzling light shows.

Grand celebrations unfolded across cities in the country. In Mumbai, thousands gathered along the Arabian Sea promenade, while iconic spots like Connaught Place and Hauz Khas in Delhi buzzed with revelers. Security arrangements ensured safe festivities in the capital.

Meanwhile, devotees visited temples and shrines nationwide to offer prayers for a prosperous year. Braving Cold, a large number of devotees from the country and abroad are paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar to seek blessings for another prosperous year. India rings in New Year 2025 with a festive and religious spirit. President Droupadi Murmu greeted the nation on the eve of New Year.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended their greetings to the nation on the occasion of New Year 2025.

In a social media post, President Murmu urged citizens to renew their commitment to work together to create a brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable future for India and the world.

Vice President Dhankhar described 2025 as a momentous juncture in the country’s republic journey. He mentioned that this year marks the entry into the final quarter of our Constitution’s centenary. He said that time for us to rededicate towards realizing the vision of Constitution makers while advancing toward Viksit Bharat in 2047. Wishing the citizens wonderful health and prosperity in the new year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope that the year would bring new opportunities, success, and endless joy to the lives of everyone.

The national capital welcomed New Year 2025 with a blend of religious fervor and vibrant celebrations. Devotees flocked to temples, including Birla Mandir and Jhandewalan Temple, to attend the morning Aarti and seek blessings on the first day of the New Year. As celebrations took over the city, over 20,000 police personnel and paramilitary forces were deployed across the National Capital to ensure public safety and peaceful celebration.

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora also reviewed the security arrangements to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration throughout the night. Special arrangements were made in major markets, including the installation of CCTV cameras and additional deployment of police personnel to prevent any untoward incidents.In Himachal Pradesh tourists and local people welcomed the New Year with great enthusiasm. Given the huge number of tourists, elaborate security arrangements have also been made in the state

Akashvani Correspondent reports that to make the New Year celebration memorable, tourists as well as local people were seen dancing and singing till noon in the night. A lot of enthusiasm was seen especially among the tourists and youth for the New Year celebrations. Special programs were also organized for the entertainment of tourists in various hotels in the state. The administration has made elaborate security arrangements in Shimla, Manali, and other tourist destinations.

A large number of devotees from the country and abroad are paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar to seek blessings for another prosperous year for themselves and the Nation.

Braving cold, a large number of devotees have reached the Golden Temple from far-off places since late last night. After taking a dip in the Holy Sarovar, they are queuing up for hours and considering themselves fortunate to get the opportunity to pay gratitude to the almighty at the sanctum sanctorum. Keeping in view the influx of devotees, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has also made adequate arrangements for accommodation, langar, and medical assistance. Security arrangements are also in place.

In Kerala, partying, dancing, music, and colorful fireworks displays marked the New Year celebrations across the state. Revelers gathered in large numbers at beaches and other open places to welcome the New Year..

Akashvani Correspondent reports that tens of thousands of people thronged the Veli ground in Fort Kochi to witness the burning of Pappanji, a huge effigy of a grandfatherly figure made out of steel, clothes and straw. Every year, the event draws a large number of people from different parts of the country and abroad.

At the stroke of midnight, the effigy was set on fire. The ritual symbolizes bidding goodbye to the past year and ushering in the New Year. The event is a tradition unique to Kochi and is rooted in Portugese and other European influences.

The burning of Pappanji, usually held at the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi was dropped this year, due to the weeklong mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Elsewhere in the state, people in large numbers gathered at the beaches of Kovalam and Kozhikode and other open places to welcome the New Year.