New Year’s Eve in India
Connaught Place decorated
Like other parts of the world, India too revels in holiday mood as the New Year approaches. Planned vacations, farmhouse party preparations, etc. form the topic of discussions.
“The metro entry from Rajiv Chowk will be closed at 9 pm,” was the announcement at the metro station in New Delhi on the last day of the year to control the crowd. Rajiv Chowk, one of the busiest metro stations of the capital connects people to one of the most popular party hubs, Connaught Place.
As Delhi and the rest of the country celebrated the arrival of the New Year in slightly warmer temperature than usual at this time of the year, the crowd and the buzz at Connaught Place made it even spicier. While inside the pubs, the cover charges, alcohol, selfies and loud music prepared the base of the parties, on the streets people moved in crowds, loitering to get a feel of the celebrations. Similar is the story in the economic capital of India, Mumbai, where the posh markets such as Hiranandani remain decorated for over a week, starting from Christmas.
However, in the time where eating and shopping out have been taken over by home deliveries and ecommerce, house parties naturally win over club hopping or going out. “Its better to stay close to home and all one looks forward to is spending time in the company of friends,” says Mudit Kalra who had planned to party at a farmhouse a few kilometres away from Delhi but chose to stay at a friend’s cozy apartment with a few others for company.
This is increasingly becoming popular, especially among the young professionals who have hard day at jobs and wish to retire at home among friends, food, drinks and conversations. “I watched a film, ate good food and retired to bed,” says Chennai based Hareesh Haridasan who is maintaining his no alcohol diet due to health reasons. The city, he says, is peaceful after the traumatic floods, a silence that will be broken during the upcoming elections. Ankita Gupta, an IT professional based in Mumbai, on the other hand was disappointed by her non-alcoholic new year celebrations in her society where she has rented an apartment with two other, non-drinkers. Originally from Varanasi, Ankita cribs for a suitable, fun company.
Then there are people who like to go on vacations with friends or family to spend quality time. Bangalore based fashion and graphic designer chose to go to the dunes of Jaisalmer for desert camping with her friends. Amidst the fine, white chilling sand, the celebrations were accompanied with folk dance and music, food, alcohol and, of course, the fireworks. While this is one of the ways to go for vacation, many who live away from their homes for education or careers choose to visit their families. Sidhhartha, an artist based in Ahmedabad, visited his family in Bhilwara in Rajasthan to be a part of his father’s retirement day on the last day of the year. It was a quiet but happy day for him that ended with a family dinner.
What remains a common agenda in the celebrations is the preferred company to end and start a year. However, whether in a cozy winter apartment with alcohol and quilt for warmth or in the beaches of Goa or the chilly dunes in Jaisalmer; a distant firework is always there to let one know that it is the beginning of the New Year already!
