New Year celebrations Highlights: India welcomes 2025 with multi-city festivities

New Year celebrations live updates: Devotees visit the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar to celebrate the arrival of 2025.

New Year celebrations live updates: Fireworks in Abu Dhabi to welcome the new year.

New Year celebrations live updates: India begins the new year with celebrations across various cities.

New Year celebrations live updates: In less than 10 minutes, India will have officially entered the new year (2025).

New Year celebrations live updates: DCP Central M Harsh Vardhan says, "We have made extensive security arrangements in the ​​​​Central Delhi area. More than 80 police pickets have been set up in the entire district. Patrolling is also being carried out. Women's safety is our priority."

New Year celebrations live updates: 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.

New Year celebrations live updates: The Delhi Police intensified vehicle checks across the city on New Year’s Eve, setting up barricades and restricting traffic movement, especially around Connaught Place.

Key roads leading to Connaught Place, such as KG Marg, Parliament Street, Barakhamba Road, and Janpath, were closed to traffic, with police directing commuters to alternative routes.

These measures resulted in heavy traffic congestion in central Delhi.

New Year celebrations live updates: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla extended his New Year 2025 greetings to the people of India, wishing them a year of peace, prosperity, and personal growth.

In a message shared on December 31, Birla conveyed his hopes for the New Year to bring joy and enthusiasm to citizens, along with the realization of their resolutions.

"My dear fellow countrymen, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all of you for the New Year 2025. May the New Year bring new joys and new enthusiasm into your lives and your loved ones. I hope that all your resolutions for this year will be fulfilled," Birla said.

New Year celebrations live updates: Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Tuesday extended their heartfelt New Year wishes to the people of Himachal Pradesh.

In his message, the CM expressed hope that the New Year would bring happiness, peace, and prosperity, while also driving Himachal Pradesh towards greater progress and development. He reaffirmed his government's commitment to transforming the state and emphasized the goal of making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant. The CM urged the people to continue supporting and actively participating in this vision, highlighting their vital role in the state's path to sustainable growth and prosperity.

New Year celebrations live updates: As Australia welcomed the New Year, thousands gathered at the iconic Sydney Opera House to enjoy the stunning fireworks and celebrations. People from around the world came together to be part of the festivities.

New Year celebrations live updates: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma extended his New Year 2025 greetings to the people of the state on Tuesday. He expressed hope that the New Year would inspire individuals to contribute to the state's progress.

''A new year is always an occasion which generates new hopes and aspirations. The New Year 2025 will also inspire people of the state belonging to all castes, creeds, languages, and religions to go forward and contribute to the growth of the state," Sarma said in a statement here.

The chief minister also wished that the New Year would further strengthen the bond of friendship among all sections of the state's population. This bond of friendship will propel Assam to a new growth trajectory in socio-economic, cultural, and academic development, Sarma added.

New Year celebrations live updates: The outgoing Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheeshan extended New Year greetings to the people of the state.

In his message, the Governor offered warm wishes to Keralites both in the state and globally for a joyful and prosperous 2025. He expressed hope that the new year would strengthen unity, inspire harmony, and lead to greater progress and prosperity for Kerala.

Vijayan, in his message, highlighted that the new year marks not just the beginning of a date, but the arrival of new hopes and celebrations for the future.

New Year celebrations live updates: As Delhi prepares to welcome the New Year 2025, the police have set up extensive security measures for a safe celebration. Popular spots like Hauz Khas, Connaught Place, and Lajpat Nagar are expected to attract large crowds.

DCP South West Surendra Chaudhary told ANI, "We’ve informed restaurant owners and staff about the safety protocols. In coordination with traffic police, we’ve deployed a facial recognition system (FRS) van to spot individuals with criminal backgrounds."

Chaudhary further mentioned, "We’ve installed 60 cameras for surveillance, and senior officials, including the SHO, will be present. Loudspeakers will be used to address the crowd if needed."

New Year celebrations live updates: More than 14,000 police personnel have been deployed across Mumbai to ensure law and order on New Year's Eve, officials reported on Tuesday.

Large crowds are expected at popular spots in the city, including Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaon Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, Juhu, and Versova beaches.

Celebrations at hotels, restaurants, and malls are anticipated to continue until the early hours of Wednesday.

To prevent any incidents, the police have set up strict surveillance and security measures, an official stated.

New Year celebrations live updates: On New Year's Eve, all exits at Rajiv Chowk station will remain open for passengers, except gates 5 and 6.

Initially, DMRC had announced that exit from Rajiv Chowk station would not be allowed from 9 PM onwards to manage crowds and ensure public safety.

However, based on updated instructions from police authorities, Rajiv Chowk station will remain open for passengers until the end of services, with the exception of gates 5 and 6.

New Year celebrations live updates: Police initiated a special drive under the Sarai Act to verify whether hotels and private lodges were operating without proper registration and licenses, news agency PTI reported. The campaign was aimed at monitoring dance parties and events taking place on New Year's Eve.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Ajay Kumar Mishra stated on Monday that action would be taken against event organizers hosting parties without permission.

A total of 122 private hotels and lodges were inspected, and 56 were found to be operating without a license. These establishments were immediately sealed in accordance with the rules, and a report was sent to the licensing authority.

New Year celebrations live updates: As the world prepares to welcome the New Year, a school in Rajkot, Gujarat, has chosen a unique way to celebrate. Instead of hosting a traditional party, Shamji Belji Virani High School marked the final day of 2024 on Tuesday by organizing a clothing donation drive. Around 1,000 students collected more than 21,000 items of clothing, which will be distributed to those in need.

The recent cold weather in Rajkot, with temperatures ranging between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius, has made it challenging for underprivileged families without proper clothing to stay warm. In response, students from grades 9 to 12 went door to door collecting clothes and also contributed items from their own homes.

New Year celebrations live updates: Drone footage of the city captures a significant crowd arriving in Manali in anticipation of the New Year celebrations.

New Year celebrations live updates: Speaking to news agency ANI, regarding traffic arrangements for New Year's Eve, Additional Commissioner of Police-Traffic, P Viswa Prasad, said, “Extra manpower has been assigned to 172 key locations to manage traffic. A decision on closing flyovers has not been made yet. The CP of Hyderabad has instructed restaurants and pubs to arrange parking and ensure drunk customers do not drive. We will establish 63 checkpoints, with 8-10 officers at each, equipped with 3-4 alcometers. Zigzag barricading will be set up at 57 accident-prone locations to prevent overspeeding.”

New Year celebrations live updates: Delhi Police has implemented detailed traffic arrangements and restrictions across the city, particularly at Connaught Place, and deployed almost 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel for New Year's Eve to ensure law and order, officials reported on Tuesday.

A senior police official mentioned that 50 teams equipped with alcometers will be positioned at key spots to monitor and take action against drunk driving. Additionally, picket staff will also carry alcometers for further checks.