India bids farewell to decade with party and caution
Kolkata/New Delhi/Mumbai/Guwahati/Panaji: Bidding farewell to an eventful year and a more happening decade, India is ringing into 2011, partying wild on the beaches, discotheques, clubs and own sweet homes while youngsters cram the happening streets of metropolitan cities in designer woollens and blazers.
While the party animals hit the night joints and streets, the couch potatoes remain glued to the television sets with the channels airing entertainment capsules designed for the New Year and beaming the lit up skies of Sydney Harbour of Australia famous for its famous fireworks that herald the worldwide celebrations.
From the snow-blanketed Kashmir to sunset boulevards of Kolkata, it is party time as the revellers crammed out at all public places since morning.
In Kolkata, there were multiple parties and events all across the city, specially planned for the night to mark the occasion.
Like every year, the iconic Park Street in the heart of the city remains the most happening destination with people belonging to all ages visiting the beautifully decorated corners. Besides, in Tollugunge Club, it will be popular band from the city ‘Shiva’ and Dj Austin, who will set the mood of party.
The party animals had a blast at RCGC as renowned DJ Aakash performed there.
However, in the Western part of the country the celebration mood seems to have received a bit of setback due to the reported infiltration by terrorists, although the party loving people have arranged their own ways of marking the celebration in the two most happening destinations of India- Mumbai and Goa.
In Goa, security has been tightened along the coast by Goa police as the internationally acclaimed tourist destination often faces terror threat – directly on indirectly, especially during the peak tourist and holiday season.
As the strength of Goa police is weak in terms of providing security when in emergencies, the state depends on Central Paramilitary forces.
Goa already has presence of four Para-military force teams in wake of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Goa police have intensified marine and regular patrolling and asked all security agencies to remain alert.
“Goa is on general alert as all other states in the country. But we have taken all possible precautionary measures to evade any untoward incident and ensure safety to all those in Goa,” a police officer said.
B-town celebrities like Anil Kapoor family, Akshay Kumar along with his wife Twinkle Khanna and son Aarav, Priyanka Chopra with her family and others have already made their head-way to the party destination.
Just like Goa, the ‘financial capital’ of India, Mumbai, is celebrating a guarded New Year this year with the warning of terrorist attack threatening the city.
It is said that Mumbai is a city that never sleeps and its people do not need a reason to celebrate.
This year though, many plan to spend a quieter evening. Madding crowd at most public places, never ending queues at restaurants and past incidents of molestation at public places are reasons enough for many to stay indoors.
There is also an increasing trend of parties being organized in neighborhood housing societies to welcome the New Year with near ones only.
Travelling is another nightmare in the city and as the New Year approaches most streets will come to a virtual standstill. "We do not want to welcome a new decade sitting in a car and stuck in traffic," says Anuj Mehta who plans to leave for a nearby hillstation with his family.
The terror advisory issued by the Home Ministry a few days ago does not seem to deter the people much but there are increasing concerns over drunken brawls and past incidents of misbehavior and molestation.
"If I step out on a crowded street with my daughters on New Year's eve I will be more concerned about their safety and will not be able to enjoy at all," says Vikas Naik who plans to attend celebrations in his housing society in Andheri.
In New Delhi, celebrations are also posing a challenge to the police. The traffic police in the national capital is on a overdrive as some 500 cops on motorcycles guard the streets on New Year night to detect and prosecute drunk drivers.
Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg said that anyone measuring 30 ml/gm of alcohol can be booked, as per law.
"The focus will also be outside pubs, farmhouses, restaurants where people are likely to drive back after assembling for a party. Drunken driving causes a majority of accidents during New Year's eve and we are not willing to take any chances," he said.
Some 22,000 policemen, 2,800 traffic cops and eight companies of Central Police Reserve Forces (CRPF) will be on duty as the city turns into a fortress.
Moving from West and North to the Northeastern part of the nation, the people up here is equally tuned up to celebrate the night in full gusto like the rest of the nation.
Well known for their love for music, the people in North Eastern part of India are also geared up to usher in the new year.
From DJ nights to family get-togethers to live music shows, the people in this corner of the country do everything in style.
Assam’s main city Guwahati is also decked up for the New Year eve’s celebrations, though moral policing attempt by some nationalist outfits could dampen spirits of some the wild party-types.
However, a robust dose of music and dance is available to the people on their television sets with a number of local satellite channels lining up live performances by Assamese music heartthrobs till way past mid-night.
The Bhogali Bihu, barely a fortnight away, has also added to the glister of the occasion as bonfires and community feats have already started.
Meghalaya capital Shillong is also busy celebrating a prolonged Christmas with falling temperatures adding to the festive spirit.
The main Police Bazaar square is all lit up and loud music brining to life this ‘Scotland of the East’.
The annual midnight swim at New Year’s even at the Sangmein stream on the foothills of the Shillong Peak, where temperatures near zero degree Celsius, will not be given any break this year too.
More than a dozen youths are expected to take the plunge into the pool at the stroke of 12 under the initiative of Forever Young Club.
Other NE states, including Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur, are also all prepared to ring in the new year with big parties, music and hopes of a better future.
Kolkata/New Delhi/Mumbai/Guwahati/Panaji: Bidding farewell to an eventful year and a more happening decade, India is ringing into 2011, partying wild on the beaches, discotheques, clubs and own sweet homes while youngsters cram the happening streets of metropolitan cities in designer woollens and...
Kolkata/New Delhi/Mumbai/Guwahati/Panaji: Bidding farewell to an eventful year and a more happening decade, India is ringing into 2011, partying wild on the beaches, discotheques, clubs and own sweet homes while youngsters cram the happening streets of metropolitan cities in designer woollens and blazers.
While the party animals hit the night joints and streets, the couch potatoes remain glued to the television sets with the channels airing entertainment capsules designed for the New Year and beaming the lit up skies of Sydney Harbour of Australia famous for its famous fireworks that herald the worldwide celebrations.
From the snow-blanketed Kashmir to sunset boulevards of Kolkata, it is party time as the revellers crammed out at all public places since morning.
In Kolkata, there were multiple parties and events all across the city, specially planned for the night to mark the occasion.
Like every year, the iconic Park Street in the heart of the city remains the most happening destination with people belonging to all ages visiting the beautifully decorated corners. Besides, in Tollugunge Club, it will be popular band from the city ‘Shiva’ and Dj Austin, who will set the mood of party.
The party animals had a blast at RCGC as renowned DJ Aakash performed there.
However, in the Western part of the country the celebration mood seems to have received a bit of setback due to the reported infiltration by terrorists, although the party loving people have arranged their own ways of marking the celebration in the two most happening destinations of India- Mumbai and Goa.
In Goa, security has been tightened along the coast by Goa police as the internationally acclaimed tourist destination often faces terror threat – directly on indirectly, especially during the peak tourist and holiday season.
As the strength of Goa police is weak in terms of providing security when in emergencies, the state depends on Central Paramilitary forces.
Goa already has presence of four Para-military force teams in wake of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Goa police have intensified marine and regular patrolling and asked all security agencies to remain alert.
“Goa is on general alert as all other states in the country. But we have taken all possible precautionary measures to evade any untoward incident and ensure safety to all those in Goa,” a police officer said.
B-town celebrities like Anil Kapoor family, Akshay Kumar along with his wife Twinkle Khanna and son Aarav, Priyanka Chopra with her family and others have already made their head-way to the party destination.
Just like Goa, the ‘financial capital’ of India, Mumbai, is celebrating a guarded New Year this year with the warning of terrorist attack threatening the city.
It is said that Mumbai is a city that never sleeps and its people do not need a reason to celebrate.
This year though, many plan to spend a quieter evening. Madding crowd at most public places, never ending queues at restaurants and past incidents of molestation at public places are reasons enough for many to stay indoors.
There is also an increasing trend of parties being organized in neighborhood housing societies to welcome the New Year with near ones only.
Travelling is another nightmare in the city and as the New Year approaches most streets will come to a virtual standstill. "We do not want to welcome a new decade sitting in a car and stuck in traffic," says Anuj Mehta who plans to leave for a nearby hillstation with his family.
The terror advisory issued by the Home Ministry a few days ago does not seem to deter the people much but there are increasing concerns over drunken brawls and past incidents of misbehavior and molestation.
"If I step out on a crowded street with my daughters on New Year's eve I will be more concerned about their safety and will not be able to enjoy at all," says Vikas Naik who plans to attend celebrations in his housing society in Andheri.
In New Delhi, celebrations are also posing a challenge to the police. The traffic police in the national capital is on a overdrive as some 500 cops on motorcycles guard the streets on New Year night to detect and prosecute drunk drivers.
Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg said that anyone measuring 30 ml/gm of alcohol can be booked, as per law.
"The focus will also be outside pubs, farmhouses, restaurants where people are likely to drive back after assembling for a party. Drunken driving causes a majority of accidents during New Year's eve and we are not willing to take any chances," he said.
Some 22,000 policemen, 2,800 traffic cops and eight companies of Central Police Reserve Forces (CRPF) will be on duty as the city turns into a fortress.
Moving from West and North to the Northeastern part of the nation, the people up here is equally tuned up to celebrate the night in full gusto like the rest of the nation.
Well known for their love for music, the people in North Eastern part of India are also geared up to usher in the new year.
From DJ nights to family get-togethers to live music shows, the people in this corner of the country do everything in style.
Assam’s main city Guwahati is also decked up for the New Year eve’s celebrations, though moral policing attempt by some nationalist outfits could dampen spirits of some the wild party-types.
However, a robust dose of music and dance is available to the people on their television sets with a number of local satellite channels lining up live performances by Assamese music heartthrobs till way past mid-night.
The Bhogali Bihu, barely a fortnight away, has also added to the glister of the occasion as bonfires and community feats have already started.
Meghalaya capital Shillong is also busy celebrating a prolonged Christmas with falling temperatures adding to the festive spirit.
The main Police Bazaar square is all lit up and loud music brining to life this ‘Scotland of the East’.
The annual midnight swim at New Year’s even at the Sangmein stream on the foothills of the Shillong Peak, where temperatures near zero degree Celsius, will not be given any break this year too.
More than a dozen youths are expected to take the plunge into the pool at the stroke of 12 under the initiative of Forever Young Club.
Other NE states, including Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur, are also all prepared to ring in the new year with big parties, music and hopes of a better future.
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