New Year buzz in Cape Town

Cape Town is one place where you want to be in to welcome the New Year. While the scenic splendour, enhanced by the Table Mountain and the enchanting sea, lures people from across the world all the time, the extravagant celebrations makes it one of the most sought after destinations at the dawn of the new year.

Cape Town is one place where you want to be in to welcome the New Year. While the scenic splendour, enhanced by the Table Mountain and the enchanting sea, lures people from across the world all the time, the extravagant celebrations makes it one of the most sought after destinations at the dawn of the new year.

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The entire city pours out on to the streets on New Year's eve, watching and listening to several musical groups, comprising mostly schoolchildren who play energetic tunes.

"This is an old tradition in this country. In old times, slaves used to get a solitary off-day from their masters on New Year's eve. On that day, they would go around the city, drinking and dancing. The tradition, however, has lived on," said a policeman as one of the several groups went past the cheering crowds.

It got rather cold late in the night, but neither the groups stopped coming in, nor did the people, standing on either sides of the road, leave for their homes.

"The celebrations continue till around 4 am in the morning. Before that, people just stick around to welcome in the new year with fervour," the policeman said.

The celebrations were capped by the fireworks that lit up the city skyline at midnight.