With the world ringing in 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended new year greetings to citizens across the nation with prayers for peace and happiness.
“Wishing everyone a wonderful 2026! May the year ahead bring good health and prosperity, with success in your efforts and fulfilment in all that you do,” he said in a post on X.
“Praying for peace and happiness in our society,” the prime minister said.
In India and the world over, revellers ushered in the new year with celebrations, singing, dancing, and fireworks. In Kashmir, snow and special programmes added to the merry-making at popular tourist spots across the valley, especially in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg.
With visitors thronging the cityscape for a glimpse of the revelries, most of the hotels were booked out and special multi-tier security arrangements had been made nation-wide.
Also Read: Massive deployment of personnel across Delhi on New Year's eve
“We have been here for three days. We had come to celebrate the New Year. We felt good and the snowfall has been a blessing,” said a tourist from Haryana.
Additional checkpoints were set up in Kashmir along with increased patrolling, area domination operations and surprise inspections conducted throughout the vital roadways in the valley to avert any untoward incident, the officials said.
In other parts of the world, fireworks lit up the skies above Sydney’s Harbor Bridge, New Zealand, Rome, and Scotland, while temple bells rang across Japan and Seoul.
Meanwhile, in Greece and Cyprus, traditional fireworks were replaced with low-noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays in capital cities. Officials said the change is intended to make celebrations more welcoming for children and pets, particularly animals sensitive to loud noise.
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