Bengaluru rings in New Year with colour, music, people throng temples across state
Bengaluru (PTI): Colour, music and celebration marked New Year euphoria across Bengaluru from the night of December 31, with huge number of people stepping out to welcome 2026 amid lights, laughter and heightened security.
From the stroke of midnight, central business districts, IT corridors and residential neighbourhoods echoed with cheers.
Signature destinations of Bengaluru's cosmopolitan identity such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street and Indiranagar turned into hubs of celebration, glowing with decorative lighting, live music, DJs and spontaneous frolic, while restaurants and pubs hosted special countdown events.
As the clock struck 12 am, fireworks lit up the skyline at multiple locations, with families and groups exchanging greetings, cutting cakes and sharing sweets.
Youngsters waved glowing props and mobile phones, capturing the moment, while many offered prayers at temples and churches that held special services to mark the New Year.
The Bengaluru Police had made elaborate arrangements to ensure peaceful celebrations, deploying additional personnel across sensitive zones and enforcing traffic diversions in crowded areas.
Barricades, CCTV surveillance and night-long patrolling helped regulate the festive crowds, with officials appealing to citizens to celebrate responsibly.
The blend of modern party culture and traditional rituals reflected Bengaluru's cosmopolitan spirit, as the city ushered in the New Year with hope, harmony and high spirits.
As the new year dawned on Thursday, devotees flocked temples in the state seeking the divine blessings for a good start in 2026.
People stood in long queues in front of temples with coconuts, incense sticks and flowers to offer to the deities.
In Bengaluru, there was a huge rush of devotees at 'Dodda Ganapati' and 'Dodda Basavanna' temples in Basavanagudi area.
People thronged the centuries-old Vasantha Vallabharaya temple in Vasanthapura.
Devotees also made a beeline to Banashankari Devi temple.
The rush in temples kept the priests busy from the morning, who were engaged in various rituals including 'Homa' (fire ritual).
In Mysuru, huge rush was witnessed in Chamundeshwari temple, the presiding deity of the historical city, and also in Yoga Narasimha shrine.
In Mangaluru, Kadri Manjunatha Swamy temple saw huge crowd since morning.
Prominent shrines in the state such as Sharada temple in Sringeri, Mookambika Devi temple in Udupi, Renuka Yellamma Temple in Savadatti in Belagavi, Manjunatha Swamy Temple in Dharmasthala, Kurudumale Ganapati temple and Kolaramma temple in Kolar district saw huge rush of devotees from the morning.
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.
Manipur Guv urges people to reaffirm commitment to peace, harmony on New Year
Imphal (PTI): Extending New Year greetings, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla called upon people to reaffirm their commitment to peace, harmony, and mutual respect.
Bhalla urged people to work together to foster lasting peace and stability in the state.
"I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Manipur on the joyous occasion of New Year's Day, 2026. As we step into 2026, let us collectively reaffirm our commitment to peace, harmony, and mutual respect," he said in a statement on New Year's Eve.
"Let this be a year in which we strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among all communities, uphold the values of unity in diversity, and work together to foster lasting peace and stability in the State," he said.
Bhalla said he was hopeful that 2026 would usher in greater understanding, prosperity, and well-being for all.
"May the spirit of cooperation and compassion guide us towards building a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Manipur," he said.
Manipur has been under the President's Rule since February 2025, with BJP leader N Biren Singh resigning as the chief minister amid criticism of his government's handling of the ethnic clashes that left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless.
Singh also extended New Year greetings, stating that he was confident 2026 would bring new opportunities, renewed trust, and steady progress for Manipur.
"May the coming year bring peace, good health, and prosperity to every household. Let us move forward together with renewed hope and unity," he said in a post on X.
State Congress president K Meghachandra Singh said he was hopeful that the New Year would bring peace, healing and justice to every family, restore trust and harmony among communities, and renew collective commitment to democracy, humanity and the rule of law.
"As we welcome the New Year, our thoughts are with the people of Manipur, who have endured a year of pain, uncertainty and loss. Yet, even in the darkest times, the spirit of Manipur has remained unbroken, resilient, compassionate and united in hope," he said in a post on X.
"Let this year be one of reconciliation, dignity and lasting peace, where every voice is heard, and every life is valued. Wishing all the people of Manipur a New Year filled with hope, strength and a shared future of peace," he added.
The Governor of Manipur extends warm greetings to the people of the State on the arrival of the New Year 2026, and conveys his best wishes for a year marked by peace, harmony, good health, and prosperity.#newyear2026 #LokBhavanImphal #GovernorOfManipur pic.twitter.com/G2er7hXYJp
— LOK BHAVAN, MANIPUR (@LokBhavManipur) December 31, 2025
