New Delhi:

The world welcomed the New Year 2025 with grand celebrations, cultural events, and hope on Tuesday night – after a year of global elections, political turmoil, and war. Hundreds and thousands of people gathered all around to witness spectacular fireworks and engaged in cultural events, live music performances, and themed decorations as the world marked another rotation around the sun. In India, the New Year celebrations began in many cities with large gatherings and parties.

Delhi’s famous spots – India Gate, Hauz Khas, Connaught Place, and Lajpat Nagar – were filled with people.

Ahead of New Year’s Eve and a night of parties, the Delhi Police had put out a humourous social media post to warn drunk drivers, saying that they would hold a “cell block party” for hooligans. The post said this party’s “opening performer” is breathalyser that would identify drunk drivers, adding that they would provide “free transportation” to jail and a “VIP lounge” in the form of jail cells.

Mumbai’s Juhu Beach, Chowpatty Beach, and Carter Road in Bandra were decorated and packed with people. People also gathered at Marine Drive to watch the fireworks.

Photo Credit: ANI

In Punjab’s Amritsar, people gathered at the Golden Temple to welcome the New Year.

People in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal and Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow were seen dancing and celebrating on the streets as the clocks struck midnight.

In Himachal Pradesh’s Manali, a popular tourist destination, crowds danced and cheered in the streets.

Percussion instruments were played in the streets of Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore, while Chennai witnessed a huge crowd for the celebrations.

On New Year’s Eve, President Droupadi Murmu extended her greetings to the nation. In her message, she said, “On the joyous occasion of the New Year, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all Indians, both in India and abroad. The coming of the New Year marks the beginning of new hopes, dreams, and aspirations in our lives. Let us welcome the New Year with joy and enthusiasm and take our society and nation further on the path of unity and excellence.”

How the world celebrated

The world ushered in 2025, with huge crowds waving goodbye to the old year that brought Olympic glory, a dramatic Donald Trump return and turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine. New York’s iconic Times Square witnessed its annual New Year’s Eve ball drop. Nearly a million people gathered for the 115th edition of the celebration, which has been a tradition since 1907.

Photo Credit: AFP

Japan witnessed the world’s largest fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Fireworks display in Kōnosu, Japanpic.twitter.com/Bhf1dIdfk6

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 31, 2024

In Syria, which recently witnessed the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, people celebrated the New Year with large crowds and fireworks.

Vibrant fireworks exploded above the Great Pyramids in Egypt’s Cairo.

While thousands of people gathered on the streets of Taipei to celebrate the New Year, Sydney – the self-proclaimed ‘New Year’s capital of the world’ – sprayed fireworks.

People celebrating New Year 2025, at Begumpet in Hyderabad on Tuesday night.
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

An air of festive cheer and party mood swept Hyderabad as citizens welcomed the New Year with house parties, pub crawl, roaring through the city; while some others attended midnight mass at different churches lit up for the occasion.

At Kumar’s residence in Uppal, the excitement of New Year preparations filled the air. While the parents were busy lighting up their porch and stenciling large rangoli designs, setting the stage for a vibrant celebration, their 25-year-old son, Sameer, was getting ready to head out for a friend’s party in Hitec City. This scene played out in many households across the city on Tuesday evening.

The celebrations ranged from gatherings at farmhouses and groups strategically positioned at scenic viewpoints on the city’s outskirts to witness the midnight fireworks. As the clock inched towards 12, bakeries across the city, adorned with vibrant lights mixed with the beats of loud party music became hotspots for families, friends, and partygoers alike as they gathered to indulge in sweet treats to begin the new year.

Amid intensified surveillance by over 22,000 police officials from the tri-commisionerates, decked up in colourful lights, the city welcomed the New Year 2025. Hundreds of checkposts were set up at strategic points to monitor drunk driving, narcotics use, noise violations, traffic control, women safety and overall crime prevention.

“We have caught four persons for drunk driving,” said a police officer at Aramghar, where 50 personnel manned the key junction of the city.

Parties and celebrations across the city began as early as 8 p.m. with restaurants, bars and pubs teeming with young revellers, and the festivities continued well past midnight. Over 130 new year parties and events on a popular ticket booking platform were booked by Tuesday evening. The ones with last-minute ‘impromptu plan’ found it nearly impossible to secure a table, as reservations had been made weeks in advance. This led many to turn to street food vendors and drive-ins, where they savoured local delicacies under the open sky.

For many young people, house parties were the preferred choice. “To avoid traffic snarls, all my friends gathered for a hearty dinner at our favourite biryani place as early as 7 p.m. and then reached a friend’s place well before midnight. This allowed us to enjoy the best of both the worlds — catch a glimpse of the city as well as spend quality time with the loved one,” said Priya Aanand, a software employee from Kondapur.

K. Srinivas, who owns five service apartments in the western part of Hyderabad, shared that bookings for New Year’s Eve were made as early as November-end. “The clients are usually known ones or the ones vouched by the regular ones. I tell them the rules and never had a problem hosting them… so far,” he chuckled.

As the clock struck midnight, families gathered at popular spots like Tank Bund and PVNR Marg, cheering and celebrating the arrival of the New Year together. People watched in awe as colourful fireworks lit up the dark winter sky of Hyderabad.

December 31 brings masses of people together to usher in the new year. But when massive crowds gather to party, certain risks – such as overcrowding or alcohol-related violence – may increase.

Here are some tips to stay safe in packed public spaces, so your end-of-year celebration can be a happy one.

A surge of people in the city centre

New Year’s Eve celebrations are usually unticketed and free to attend. This can make it difficult to estimate how many people will show up.

But public events to watch midnight fireworks often attract hundreds of thousands of people in large city centres.

Revellers are spread over open public areas rather than within a structured venue, and there’s typically no formal security screening or restricted entry.

The risk of overcrowding often peaks shortly after midnight. During the night, the crowd usually builds up gradually over several hours. Then, after the fireworks display, everyone rushes to nearby transport hubs to get home.

This surge in movement – where people pour into stations and areas with limited capacity – increases the risk of a crowd crush.

How does a crowd crush happen?

A crowd crush is not necessarily the result of a “stampede”, although it’s a common misconception this is what causes death and injury in crowds.

In fact, a crowd crush, or surge, is a problem of extreme density.

In a crowd crush, you will start to feel pushed forward, often against your will, and this pushes others forward in a dangerous chain reaction.

In these situations, you lose the ability to move on your own accord. The crowd begins to behave more like a fluid.

This turbulence only happens in very dense crowds — usually when there are more than seven or eight people per square metre.

The danger escalates if the pressure on a person’s chest and lungs from overcrowding becomes too intense. This can lead to compressive asphyxia — when a person can’t breathe due to immense pressure on their chest.

A progressive crowd collapse can also occur. If someone falls, it can trigger a domino effect.

What can I do?

There are some things you can do to help lessen your risk of being involved in a crowd crush.

1. Plan your journey ahead: avoid areas likely to experience bottlenecks. Local authorities often plan how to spread crowds and avoid congestion, for example by setting up several celebration sites. Know where you’re going ahead of time.

2. Delay your departure: if possible, wait a little after the fireworks display ends to avoid the surge of movement towards public transport.

3. Monitor for overcrowding: look for early signs of a crush, such as movement slowing or stopping. Try to avoid packed areas and move towards less crowded spaces (for example, to the sides). Listen for signals of distress from people around you or downstream in the crowd. And if you can, pass this information further upstream – for example, by saying “stop moving” or “slow down”, which can lessen the pressure.

People who are shorter or have mobility issues or crowd anxiety (agoraphobia) may be more at risk – so take extra care if this applies to you or someone you’re with.

What about other risks?

Severe heat

New Year’s Eve in Australia is often hit with extreme heat. The good news is severe weather alerts are usually issued well in advance, so you can be prepared. Check the forecast, dress appropriately and carry water with you.

If you’re in an at risk group (including older people, very young children and people with chronic conditions) be prepared to make the choice not to go, if unfavourable weather is predicted.

Fireworks

Fireworks are an iconic part of New Year’s Eve. There can be safety risks, but these come from private fireworks that are prone to misfire and cause accidents.

Public fireworks displays today are incredibly safe compared to private fireworks. Public displays are licensed by experts who follow strict regulations.

Alcohol

For many people, a cheeky champagne is a must on December 31.

Unfortunately where excessive drinking is involved, risks increase – including violent behaviour in public or drink driving incidents.

A Victorian Health Promotion Foundation study found ambulance call-outs and emergency department presentations increase six-fold on New Year’s Eve.

Hospital admissions related to alcohol intoxication increase five-fold.

Emergency department visits for assault more than triple during this time.

But you can drink, party and travel responsibly. Pace yourself, and always have a safe way to get home. Designate a driver, use public transport, or call a ride-share or taxi.

Terrorism

For the first time in a decade, Australia will be celebrating New Year’s Eve at a “probable” terror threat level. This means the possibility of an attack — though not imminent — remains significant enough to warrant vigilance.

If you notice any suspicious activity, report it immediately to your local designated hotline.

In an emergency, follow instructions from authorities and be aware of your surroundings. Avoid filming incidents as they unfold – prioritise your safety and that of others over documentation.

The likelihood of something going wrong is generally quite low. But with millions of people participating in many events across the globe, it’s good to be aware of what the risks might be.

Being prepared means you can enjoy the festivities more safely.

(Author: Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Risk & Resilience, UNSW Sydney)

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Year is always such a overwhelming time, full of anxieties regarding what’s about to come, what’s about to change, what’s the next thing to happen, however, it is important to hold a neutral position about what’s to come, and it would be even better if one finds things to look forward to. Here are the top 10 things you can await with pleasure over the next year.

Future of TikTok?

Congress has overwhelmingly passed legislation for TikTok to be banned from US app stores by January 19 unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake. However, after they appealed to the Supreme Court on grounds that the ban violates First Amendment rights to free speech, the court will hear the case on January 10th.

Yet, with Trump’s aligned conservatives in the court and Trump himself batting for the app saying, “We got to keep this sucker around for a little while”, it will be interesting to see if both US and ByteDance’s concerns could be satisfied.

Photo Credit: Reuters

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returning back

NASA announced that the stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be coming back to Earth by March 2025, after yet another delay.

The astronauts had left for the ISS on June 5th 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft as a part of a test flight, with plans to return back to Earth a week later, but technical issues in the spacecraft delayed their return.

Photo Credit: Reuters

Oasis reunion

Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are reuniting for an Oasis Live 2025 tour after a 15-year-long feud between them. The tour will begin on July 4th, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales, although the band has promised more dates outside the UK later in the year.

This finally answers one of rock’s biggest will-they-won’t-they questions.

In a release, they stated, “There has been no great revelatory moment that has ignited the reunion – just the gradual realisation that the time is right.”

Photo Credit: @Oasis on Instagram

Grand Theft Auto VI release

Although the release date of Grand Theft Auto VI has not been disclosed, it is expected to fall sometime in fall 2025. The game has already broken a Guinness World Record for most-viewed video game reveal with its trailer with more than 168 million views.

Grand Theft Auto V, has sold over 190 million units.

Photo Credit: @gta6ixofficial on Instagram

COP 30 in Brazil

The 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) will convene in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, and will include the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 30). but ironically, the meeting might harm the environment.

A new highway, Avenida Liberdade, has been approved for the facilitation of traffic into and out of Belém, that will cut through its protected area, and disturb wildlife movement.

Session of COP 28 in Dubai, where COP 30 was formalized in Brazil, in Belém

Jubilee of 2025

Italy’s capital is gearing up for a spectacular celebration as the Catholic Church’s Jubilee returns in 2025. This momentous event, which occurs every 25 years, is expected to draw millions of devout pilgrims to the city.

The festivities will commence on December 24, 2024, with a symbolic ceremony: the Opening of the Holy Door.

One of the highlights of the Jubilee is the historic Seven Churches Pilgrimage. This revered tradition, which dates back to the 16th century, involves a 25km journey on foot through the city and surrounding countryside, visiting seven major basilicas along the way.

Photo Credit: Reuters

World Expo 2025

Osaka is preparing to host the World Expo in 2025, 55 years after setting a record for the best-attended Expo of the 20th century in 1970. The city is determined to surpass its previous success, and its plans are nothing short of impressive.

Renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto has designed a breathtaking centerpiece for the Expo: a 20-meter-high, 2-kilometer-long Grand Ring that will encircle the entire site. Visitors will be able to walk along the ring, taking in stunning views of the Expo and Osaka Bay.

With its unique blend of architecture, technology, and international collaboration, Expo 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience.

Photo Credit: @expo2025japan on Instagram

TV Shows

2025 will be an exciting year for television shows as the most anticipated shows are returning after quite some gap. Be it comedies, mysteries or dramas, the year will be a jam-packed one.

• Yellowjackets (survival thriller and drama) will be returning with a Season 3 of the show. The show will premiere on February 16th, 2025.
• The White Lotus (dark comedy, social satire) will be returning in February 2025, and will be set in Thailand.
• The Handmaid’s Tale (dystopian fiction), based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, will also be released in 2025 with Season 6 of the show. This will be the final season for the show.
• The Last Of Us (post-apocalyptic drama) is a zombie drama series based on a video game of the same name, which became HBO’s most watched debut season.
• Stranger Things (supernatural action-drama) will wrap up its final season on Netflix. The series pays homage to Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. The fourth season was the second-most-streamed Netflix show of all time.

Photo Credit: @strangerthingstv on Instagram

Movies

• Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eight movie of the franchise sees the 62 year old Tom Cruise reprise his role as Ethan Hunt. It will pick up from where 2022’s Dead Reckoning Part One left off.
• Superman, which sees David Corenswet play the 25-year-old version of DC character, is given the title “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters”. Rachel Brosnahan stars as Lois Lane in the movie.
• 28 Years Later, starring Cillian Murphy, is a zombie apocalypse movie bringing the undead to run. This is the first in a planned trilogy.
• Snow White, co-written by Greta Gerwig stars Rachel Zegler in the titular role with Gal Gadot playing the Evil Queen.
• Michael, Lionsgate’s most anticipated movie of the year, is a biographical film chronicling the life of Michael Jackson. The movie stars the pop icon’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

Photo Credit: @28yearslatermovie on Instagram

Books

• How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris; the book follows a couple who have grown apart because of their political differences. The book is about romantic and sibling love, how identities evolve over time, ambition and monogamy.
• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler; this is the Pulitzer prize winning author’s 25th novel, which revolves around a marriage story, not something one would quite expect.
• Tilt by Emma Pattee, is a natural disaster adventure novel that anxieties surrounding motherhood, marriage and career.
• The Next Day by Melinda French Gates; a memoir in which she explores themes of life’s changes, becoming a parent and recent departure from a foundation she started with her ex-husband Bill Gates.
• Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles; Beyonce and Solange’s mother tells her story through this book, about how she raises superstar daughters and the challenges that come along the way, basically how she came to be one of the most famous moms in the world.

Photo Credit: @melindafrenchgates on Instagram