Revellers welcome New Year across the world

By Our correspondent

LAHORE: The New Year was welcomed by revellers in a great manner across the world, beginning from Samoa, Tonga and Christmas Island/Kiribati, the first places in the world to welcome year 2018.

Festivities started even before the clock struck 12 in midnight as revellers cheered the advent of the New Year, with Australia, New Zealand and Japan being some of the first countries to bid farewell to 2017.

In Australian city of Sydney, more than an estimated one million people gathered to watch a spectacular fireworks display in the harbour.

About eight tonnes of fireworks were lit during the colourful display, which lasted 12 minutes.

In Auckland, New Zealand, tens of thousands of people gathered to watch a fireworks display on the iconic SkyTower, the city's most well-known landmark.

In Japan, people celebrated the arrival the of the Year of the Dog, eating New Year's food such as noodles, shrimp and sweet black beans and praying for peace and good fortune.

South Korea and several smaller islands spread across the Pacific were the next nations to flip over the calendars. China, the Philippines and Singapore have joined the jubilation at 4pm GMT.

Outlying parts of the US, such as Hawaii and Alaska will be among the last places on the planet to celebrate New Year’s Eve. In almost all cities of Pakistan, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, the year 2018 was welcomed in style. In Karachi, people were allowed to welcome the New Year at beach by the provincial government after almost 10 years.

In Lahore, jubilant people came out on roads to celebrate New Year. Almost all areas in the city echoed with gunshots as citizens, mostly youngsters, thronged the streets and roundabouts, dancing to the tunes of songs. ‘Bhangra’ and ‘dhamal’ with firing into the air were a common sight in every nook and cranny of the city.

Vehicular traffic came to a standstill as some people even started dancing on the roads by parking their vehicles on the roadside.

As per its customs, the Bahria Town arranged the New Year celebrations in three cities of Pakistan — including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad — simultaneously. The New Year was welcomed amid great fireworks display and was attended by thousands of people in the above-mentioned cities.

The celebrations were marked in three cities at the same time. Following were the venues where the New Year was welcomed: Barhia Icon Tower Karachi (near Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine in Clifton), Bahria Fountain (Bahria Town, Super Highway, Karachi), Bahria Town Lahore (Eiffel Tower) and Bahria Enclave Islamabad (Trafalgar Square).

Apart from this, in the Bahria Town Karachi (Super Highway), an international dancing fountain performance was arranged on the already existing fountain.

Like the past, people in all the above-mentioned cities became a part of these celebrations with full zeal and zest. On the other hand, to welcome 2018, the Bahria Town had also arranged great fireworks display, brilliant music and games to keep the people engaged.

The people of Pakistan were also eagerly waiting for the New Year celebrations in Bahria Town. This year too, the Bahria Town had spread innumerable colours in the sky as the New Year began, igniting hope — of a better year and an optimistic future — amongst the people in its own style.

A musical concert was also arranged in the Bahria Town Lahore (Eiffel Tower), where renowned artists gave performances.

For the people living in the Bahria Town and outside it, the management of Bahria Town arranged celebrations in three cities to allow people to enjoy and welcome the New Year amid renewed fervour.