MUMBAI: New Year Eve Sunday will see Mumbaikars welcome 2024 in their own cheerful way by visiting religious places to offer prayers or putting together small house parties at night. Hotels have devised special menus while local clubs and restaurants are offering discounts.
Large public gatherings unfold at Gateway of India, Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu beaches.Sr PI Pramod Bhovte of Colaba police station overseeing arrangements at Gateway said, “Around 30,000-40,000 people assemble here on December 31 because they expect a grand spectacle at the midnight hour when the New Year arrives. They themselves announce the countdown… 10, 9, 8… 3, 2, 1. But when the moment arrives, nothing happens! There are no fireworks at Gateway anymore, the lights do not go off, nothing. So they are all disappointed. All these festivities used to take place before the lockdown but have since stopped. So this year we have pasted posters across the area saying ‘No Aatishbazi’ or anything will happen here. The crowd could well disperse to Marine Drive or Chowpatty but they linger at Gateway from 6.00-12.00 pm waiting for a grand entry.”
Hundreds of devotees visit Siddhivinayak temple as well as Mahalaxmi, Hanuman Mandir near Crawford Market and Mumbadevi. South Indian religious institutions perform Vishwa Shanthi homams for universal peace and prosperity. The Sri Sankara Mattham in Matunga has organised an Atharvaseersha Maha Ganapathi homam, Lakshmi Kubera homam and Nakshatra Shanti homams on January 1.
Shanmukhananda Sabha, King’s Circle, will conduct Akhanda bhajan and Carnatic vocal recitals from evening till midnight on December 31 by different musicians to welcome the New Year.
Of late, mosques in certain localities, particularly Andheri West-Jogeshwari, have been organising special gatherings for Muslim youth on the night of December 31 to keep them from idling or riding bikes in groups. Fathers bring their young sons to listen to learned priests cite passages from the Holy Quran and Hadees, and imbibe moral lessons. Dinner is served afterward.
Churches will conduct special New Year Eve mass. Fr Michael Pinto, parish priest of Salvation Church, or Portuguese Church as it is popularly known, said, “We have installed a new LED billboard screen facing the road. It will display information about eco-friendly living and choices for people who pass by. It is like a New Year gift!”
Salvation Church is among the few that still conduct New Year mass at midnight. “We have our Holy Hour, which is a time to thank the Lord for all His blessings and to look forward with hope. It is also a time to pray for the needs of the world, especially for peace. This will happen from 11.00 pm to 12.00 am. After that we have our mass at 12.00 am. In the morning we have mass in English at 6.30 am, Konkani at 8.00 am followed by another English mass at 9.30 am.”
House parties or society gatherings are increasingly becoming the favoured mode of celebration especially given the numerous delivery options. Mumbai’s dug up roads and incessant traffic can cause people to be stuck in frustrating jams at the midnight hour.
Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, is a haven for bakery and confectionery items given the vast number of outlets. “We are hosting an old college mate who is visiting town from Australia, and have invited three families in all. We will purchase cakes and finger foods from the variety of shops in the locality, and order in a festive dinner from a nearby restaurant,” said businessman Ashish Swamy.
Large public gatherings unfold at Gateway of India, Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu beaches.Sr PI Pramod Bhovte of Colaba police station overseeing arrangements at Gateway said, “Around 30,000-40,000 people assemble here on December 31 because they expect a grand spectacle at the midnight hour when the New Year arrives. They themselves announce the countdown… 10, 9, 8… 3, 2, 1. But when the moment arrives, nothing happens! There are no fireworks at Gateway anymore, the lights do not go off, nothing. So they are all disappointed. All these festivities used to take place before the lockdown but have since stopped. So this year we have pasted posters across the area saying ‘No Aatishbazi’ or anything will happen here. The crowd could well disperse to Marine Drive or Chowpatty but they linger at Gateway from 6.00-12.00 pm waiting for a grand entry.”
Hundreds of devotees visit Siddhivinayak temple as well as Mahalaxmi, Hanuman Mandir near Crawford Market and Mumbadevi. South Indian religious institutions perform Vishwa Shanthi homams for universal peace and prosperity. The Sri Sankara Mattham in Matunga has organised an Atharvaseersha Maha Ganapathi homam, Lakshmi Kubera homam and Nakshatra Shanti homams on January 1.
Shanmukhananda Sabha, King’s Circle, will conduct Akhanda bhajan and Carnatic vocal recitals from evening till midnight on December 31 by different musicians to welcome the New Year.
Of late, mosques in certain localities, particularly Andheri West-Jogeshwari, have been organising special gatherings for Muslim youth on the night of December 31 to keep them from idling or riding bikes in groups. Fathers bring their young sons to listen to learned priests cite passages from the Holy Quran and Hadees, and imbibe moral lessons. Dinner is served afterward.
Churches will conduct special New Year Eve mass. Fr Michael Pinto, parish priest of Salvation Church, or Portuguese Church as it is popularly known, said, “We have installed a new LED billboard screen facing the road. It will display information about eco-friendly living and choices for people who pass by. It is like a New Year gift!”
Salvation Church is among the few that still conduct New Year mass at midnight. “We have our Holy Hour, which is a time to thank the Lord for all His blessings and to look forward with hope. It is also a time to pray for the needs of the world, especially for peace. This will happen from 11.00 pm to 12.00 am. After that we have our mass at 12.00 am. In the morning we have mass in English at 6.30 am, Konkani at 8.00 am followed by another English mass at 9.30 am.”
House parties or society gatherings are increasingly becoming the favoured mode of celebration especially given the numerous delivery options. Mumbai’s dug up roads and incessant traffic can cause people to be stuck in frustrating jams at the midnight hour.
Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, is a haven for bakery and confectionery items given the vast number of outlets. “We are hosting an old college mate who is visiting town from Australia, and have invited three families in all. We will purchase cakes and finger foods from the variety of shops in the locality, and order in a festive dinner from a nearby restaurant,” said businessman Ashish Swamy.