Beaches teem with revellers as Goa rings in New Year with fireworks, late-night parties
Panaji (PTI): Joyous crowds thronged Goa’s beaches on Wednesday night to ring in the New Year amid fireworks, music and parties, with major coastal stretches in North Goa witnessing heavy traffic jams, officials and locals said.
Thousands of revellers gathered along popular beaches, including Calangute, Sinquerim, Baga, Vagator, Arambol and Kerim, where seaside shacks, nightspots and open-air venues hosted celebrations that continued late into the night.
At the stroke of midnight, the skies over the coastline lit up with colourful fireworks as people cheered, hugged and wished one another, ushering in the New Year to the sound of music and waves.
Police said vehicular movement towards major beach belts remained slow for several hours. Roads were jam-packed with tourist vehicles and two-wheelers heading to celebration spots and return traffic after midnight.
Local authorities deployed additional police personnel for crowd and traffic management in party hotspots, while lifeguards kept vigil along the shoreline.
Goa, one of the country’s most sought-after New Year destinations, saw restaurants, beach shacks and nightclubs packed with tourists and locals.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant greeted the people of the coastal state and expressed hope that the coming year would usher in peace, prosperity, good health, and happiness to every Goan.
In his message, he appealed to citizens to continue supporting the government’s efforts in effectively implementing various welfare schemes and development initiatives across the state.
Sawant emphasised that people’s cooperation is essential to accelerate growth, strengthen public services, and ensure that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.
He urged Goans to actively participate in the ‘Swayampurna Goa’ mission and strive towards greater self-reliance. Sawant said the initiative aims to empower individuals, communities, and local governance structures, fostering sustainable livelihoods and enhancing overall quality of life.
Sawant also called upon the people to uphold the Goa’s cherished tradition of religious harmony, mutual respect, and collective well-being. This spirit of togetherness is one of Goa’s greatest strengths and must continue to shine in the year ahead, he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rupee starts 2026 on negative note; falls 11 paise to 89.99/ USD in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee started the new year on a negative note and depreciated 11 paise to 89.99 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday weighed down by persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said the rupee entered 2026 with both challenges and cushions, while global uncertainty persists, India’s strong macroeconomic parameters and ample forex reserves provide stability.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 89.94 against the US dollar, then lost some ground and touched 89.99, registering a fall of 11 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the last trading session of 2025, the rupee settled at 89.88 against the US dollar.
"While the calendar has changed, volatility is likely to persist. Under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the RBI appears comfortable allowing the rupee to adjust with market forces, while remaining actively present to smooth excessive moves and maintain orderly conditions," CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said.
Progress on the paused India–US trade deal remains a key upside risk and could deliver a meaningful confidence boost if concluded, Pabari said. "For now, USD/INR is expected to trade in the 89.30–90.20 range in the near term," he said, adding that a sustained break below 89.30 could open the path toward 88.50.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.09 per cent higher at 98.32.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading lower by 0.78 per cent at USD 60.85 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 194.38 points higher at 85,414.98, while the Nifty was up 47.55 points at 26,177.15.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 3,597.38 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
