New Year rung in with gusto

New Delhi, Jan 1 (UNI) The country ushered in the year 2007 with drinking, merrymaking and colourful fireworks continuing late into the night amid tight security arrangements, a scene repeated with slight variations across the globe.

It was a double treat for the partygoers as they could prolong the celebrations till the small hours since Monday being a holiday on account of Eid-ul-Zuha for most of the offices.

In the capital, heavy security arrangements, high spirits, decorated churches and celebrations galore lit the midnight spark with residents dancing their way well into the early hours.

Strict traffic enforcement and heavy police presence did not militate against a fun, frolic and fiesty mood all over the city.

Decorated malls, colourfully-lit shopping arcades and festooned markets added to the joy.

However, the arrest of two terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba by the police from the New Delhi railway station last evening prevented the revelry from taking a tragic turn.

As the clock struck 1200 tens and hundreds of people in Chennai thronged the temples where special poojas were performed.

Long queues of devotees were seen in the famous Parthasarathy temple, Lord Muruuga temple at Vadapalani and the ancient Kapaleeswarar temple at Mylapore.

Special midnight mass were held in all the churches.

The spiritual city of Varanasi woke up on the first morning of 2007 to resonance of bells in temples thronged by devotees who followed it up with new year revelry on the sandy banks of the Ganga river resembling the Juhu beach of Mumbai bustling with life routinely.

After late night parties soaked in music, wine and spicy delicacies, the religious city did not sleep late on New Year Day but woke up early despite a foggy first morning of 2007.

Prominent temples, including world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, Sankatmochan temple, Durga temple, Kal Bhairo temple and Bada Ganesh temples were crammed with devouts right from early morning.

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