The country welcomed the New Year with celebrations, revelry and prayers as it bade adieu to an eventful year that brought India to the fore.
All major cities welcomed 2024 with lavish celebrations. Fireworks enthralled thousands in Goa, while hundreds gathered in front of Mumbai's Gateway of India. In Delhi, Connaught Place saw people cheering for the new dawn. While Kamarajar Salai in Chennai saw a huge turnout, the Mall Road in Shimla also witnessed a good crowd.
People gathered at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate the new year. The celebration included singing, dancing, and revelry and were arranged by the Department of Tourism.
Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner and CEO of Srinagar Smart City Ltd. Athar Aamir Khan described the occasion as something the city has never seen before. "This is Srinagar Square, Lal Chowk right now! A city life never seen before. The celebration, the vibrancy like never before!" Athar Aamir Khan said in a post on X.
"This is probably the biggest alibi to the transformation that Srinagar city has witnessed with the implementation of Srinagar Smart City (SMC) projects! Immensely proud of my Srinagar Smart City and SMC team for making this happen! Happy New Year!," the municipal commissioner added.
Prayers were also held across all religious places. Devotees in large numbers thronged Delhi's Jhandewalan Devi Temple in the wee hours of New Year, while the Golden Temple in Amritsar also witnessed devotees welcoming the new year with faith and prayers.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with his wife MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, reached the Golden Temple and offered prayers as the New Year began. "We are here at the Darbar Sahib to pray that the new year becomes a year of happiness for everyone. May the country and Punjab develop," said Badal.
#WATCH | Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh: On the first morning of New Year 2024, people take a holy dip in River Ganga at Har Ki Pauri pic.twitter.com/GVMtXICJJ3
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2024
The first Ganga Aarti and 'Surya Puja' of 2024, performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, also saw a huge crowd. Special prayers were held at Velankanni Church in Tamil Nadu on the first day of the year 2024.
PM wishes people
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the New Year on Monday wished people prosperity, peace, and wonderful health. In a post on X, Modi said, "Wishing everyone a splendid 2024! May this year bring forth prosperity, peace and wonderful health for all."
In his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast on Sunday, the PM urged the countrymen to maintain the spirit of self-reliance in 2024 as well.
