TN Ushers New Year On Low Key Note, Marina Wears Deserted Look

The people of this teeming megapolis ushered in the New year with spiritual fervour and traditional gaiety in Tamil Nadu.

As the clock struck 12, shouts of 'Happy New Year' rent the air, fireworks lit up the skies and people burst crackers as people bade farewell to COVID-hit 2020 and ushered in 2021.

However, the celebrations were a low key one in view of thecovid pandemic and the new mutant variant emerging in the UK.

The world famous Marina beach front, were lakhs of people used to congregate every year, wore a deserted look as the Tamil Nadugovernment banned New year fete in public in view of the pandemic.

All the beach fronts and the roads leading to the beaches weremade out of bound for public.

As many as 10,000 police personnel were deployed on security dutyand check posts and barricades were erected to prevent peopleentering the beach front. All the flyovers and arterial roads also cameunder police surveillance to prevent unwanted movement of people.

The new year fete was also banned in clubs and hotels which weredirected to wind up their operations by 2200 hrs last night.

The New Year was also celebrated by various residential associations in the city, by bursting crackers and distributing sweets, while tastefullydecorating and illuminating their buildings.

People ushered in the new year by drawing colourful rangolis infront of their houses.

Special midnight masses were held in various churches across thestate and the churches were tastefully decorated and illuminatedto mark the occasion.

Thousands of faithfuls thronged the Santhome Basilica in the city and at Velankanni church in Besant Nagar, besides the world famous Nagapattinam Church to mark the occasion by following physicaldistancing norms and COVID protocols.

Special poojas and abhishekams were also held at various templesacross the State.

People attired in new clothes thronged temples early in the morningto offer worship.

Large crowds were seen in temples, including at the famous SriParthasarathy temple, Lord Kapaleeswarar temple and at Lord Muruga temple at Vadapalani in the city.

Elsewhere in the state, a large number of people offered prayersat the ancient Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam, Lord Varadharajaswamy temple at Kancheepuram, Goddess Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai, Goddess Kamatchi Amman temple in Kancheepuram and at Sri Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram.

Huge crowds were also seen in all the six abodes of Lord Murugaas devotees thronged in large numbers to offer prayers.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy,Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, DMK President M K Stalin and leadersof various political parties, including MDMK General Secertary Vaiko,DMDK leader Vijayakanth, TMC leader G K Vasan, AMMK leader Dhinakaran greeted the people on the occasion and wished them more wealth and prosperity in their lives.