Tamil Nadu welcomes New Year with fervour

People across the state today celebrated the dawn of a new year, offering special prayers in places of worship and exchanging greetings. Various temples in the city including Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s shrine and Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane, the Santhome Basilica Church, the Thousand Lights Mosque were thronged by large number of people since early morning. The famous church in Velankanni conducted special prayers while Sri Meenakshi temple and Sri Koodal Alagar in Madurai and Lord Muruga temples in Palani and Tiruchendur were thrown open for public at 4 am. 

Bakeries remained open throughout the night yesterday doing brisk business with people buying cakes and sweets for sharing with friends and relatives. Hotels and restaurants held special new year programmes till the wee hours. Security was beefed up across the state and vehicle checks were conducted. Security had been arranged at all the places of worship. Police personnel were deployed at vital places like the famous Marina Beach in Chennai where people throng in huge numbers. 

Pomp and gaiety marked the New Year celebrations in the union territory of Puducherry on Thursday. Midnight mass was conducted in all the churches and long queues were seen in front of temples including the Manakkula Vinayagar temple and Panchamukha Anjaneyar temple near here since,early morning. Youths thronged the beach and exchanged pleasantries to welcome the  New Year.