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New Year's Day
Police penalised more than 23,000 motorists for violating rules, driving drunk, and obstructing traffic, during the New Year celebrations in Mumbai, officials said on Wednesday. While traffic police penalised 17,800 vehicles and collected Rs 89,19,750 fine via e-challans, city police fined 5,670 motorists. Overall, police checked 46,143 vehicles on New Year's eve at 107 places across Mumbai and caught 333 motorists who were driving under the influence of alcohol. The action was taken for drunk driving, obstructing traffic, riding motorbikes without helmets, jumping signals, and entering one-way roads, a traffic police official said. Motorists were also fined for speed violations, driving four-wheelers without wearing the seat belt and using mobile phones while driving, he said. A large number of people assembled at prominent places in Mumbai, including the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Bandra Bandstand, and Juhu Chowpatty, to ring in the New Year. Security was tightened at key
Ayodhya on Wednesday witnessed an unprecedented rush of devotees on the first day of the New Year as the temple town saw an overwhelming turnout of pilgrims, particularly at the newly constructed Ram Mandir. The temple was consecrated on January 22 last year. According to local administration estimates, over two lakh devotees had already set up camps in Ayodhya on New Year Eve. On Wednesday morning, approximately three lakh more people arrived to pay homage to the deity of Ram Lalla. The eagerness of devotees was palpable as they lined up for 'darshan' of the idol which was unveiled at sunrise on the first day of the year. In a statement, Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai said the entire world is celebrating the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar. The winter season coupled with a holiday break contributed to the high number of visitors, he explained. With schools, courts and agricultural work closed for the season, he said, "People often take vacations durin
Several roads in Delhi were jam-packed and long queues formed at key metro stations as huge crowds thronged to India Gate, Connaught Place and religious places across the national capital on New Year's Day. The C-Hexagon at India Gate saw a massive crowd gathering on Kartavya Path, leading to traffic congestion in the area. Other key spots attracting large crowds included Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Prachin Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place, Akshardham Mandir, Jhandewalan Mandir, Khatu Shyam Mandir on GT Road and the Jagannath Temple in South Delhi. Deepali Verma, a resident of north Delhi, said she came to Hanuman Mandir to seek blessings. "I wish everyone a very happy New Year filled with peace and prosperity. I have come here along with my husband and son to offer prayers at the temple and seek Lord Hanuman's blessings," Verma said. According to a police officer, their main focus was on India Gate, Ashoka Road, Hanuman Mandir and Connaught Place. "We have deployed personnel across
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers on Wednesday extended New Year greetings to the people and wished for prosperity, success and harmony. Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also invoked the Constitution in their new year wishes urging everyone to remain loyal to it and nurture democratic values with resolve to keep nation first. Modi hoped the new year brings "new opportunities, success and endless joy". "Happy 2025! May this year bring everyone new opportunities, success and endless joy. May everybody be blessed with wonderful health and prosperity," he said on X. President Murmu asked the people to renew commitment to work together for creating a brighter, more inclusive and sustainable future for India and the world. "Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! May the year 2025 bring joy, harmony and prosperity to all! On this occasion, let us renew our commitment to work together for creating a
Instead of the traditional boisterous street partying on New Year's Eve, tens of thousands of protesters led by university students gathered overnight in Belgrade and other Serbian cities to demand political reforms and justice in the Balkan country. The protesters have been actively demonstrating following the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad's central train station on November 1, which resulted in 15 fatalities. The tragedy has been attributed to corruption and substandard construction practices by the populist Serbian leadership, leading to a widespread public outcry and demands for accountability. Students from various Belgrade universities have organized the protest under the slogan There is No New Year You Still Owe Us for the Old One. The loud crowd, chanting We Want Justice, went silent at 11.52 pm with 15 minutes to honour the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. Many were holding banners with a red handprint, which has become a symbol of
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday greeted citizens on New Year's Eve and urged everyone to take "our society and nation" further on the path of unity and excellence. The coming of the new year marks the beginning of new hopes, dreams and aspirations, she said in a message. The occasion provides an opportunity to march forward with renewed vigour to fulfil "our wishes", Murmu said. "Let us welcome the new year with joy and enthusiasm and take our society and nation further on the path of unity and excellence," she said. The president extended her "heartiest greetings and best wishes to all Indians, living in India and abroad".
The Delhi Police ramped up vehicle checking across the city on the New Year's Eve on Tuesday, setting barricades and imposing restrictions of traffic movement, particularly in and around Connaught Place. All the roads leading to Connaught Place, including KG Marg, Parliament Street Barakhamba Road and Janpath, are closed for traffic and the police is directing commuters to take alternative routes. As a result, heavy traffic was witnessed in the central Delhi area. Besides central Delhi, the vehicles are being checked intensively at key locations of the city, including south Delhi's Hauz Khas and Saket, east Delhi's Vikas Marg, west Delhi's Rajouri Garden, to prevent any untoward incident, a senior police officer said. The personnel are also using breath analyser and checking the motorists whether they are driving under the influence of alcohol near Connaught Place and other areas. The sensitive areas are being checked through foot patrolling. The police are also using bikes for the
From Sydney to Vladivostok, communities around the world have begun welcoming 2025 with spectacular light shows, embraces and ice plunges. Auckland became the first major city to celebrate, as thousands thronged downtown or climbed the city's ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks vantage point. A light display recognized Indigenous people. Countries in the South Pacific Ocean are the first to ring in the New Year, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York. Conflict muted acknowledgements of the new year in places like the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine. Fireworks in Sydney Fireworks blasted off the Sydney Harbor Bridge and across the bay. More than a million Australians and others gathered at iconic Sydney Harbor for the celebration. British pop star Robbie Williams led a singalong with the crowd. The celebration also featured Indigenous ceremonies and performances that acknowledged the land's first people. Asia prepares for