From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India celebrates New Year 2026 in myriad ways

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 01-01-2026

Girls with '2026' balloons pose as they celebrate the upcoming New Year 2026, in Prayagraj

New Delhi

Fireworks lit up the night sky, and streets buzzed with celebrations as people across India welcomed the New Year 2026 with enthusiasm, prayers and public gatherings. From Delhi to Bengaluru and Amritsar, the arrival of the New Year was marked with joy and music.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Lal Chowk in Srinagar was thronged by locals and tourists to the beats of live music and festivities to user in the New Year.

New Year, new energy in Lal chawk kashmir .

Here’s to peaceful nights, open streets, shared celebrations, and a future built on confidence and hope.
May 2026 bring progress, unity, and calm across every corner of our country.

Happy New Year. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/diVzhosb2r
— Go Jammu and Kashmir (@GoJammukashmir) December 31, 2025

In Goa, dazzling fireworks illuminated the night sky as locals and tourists gathered at popular party hubs to usher in the New Year. The coastal state witnessed vibrant celebrations with hotels and shacks hosting special events like every year.

#WATCH | Fireworks illuminate the night sky in Goa and people welcome #NewYear2026 pic.twitter.com/ZToByiyYxM
— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025

In Mumbai, people celebrated as the clock struck midnight, ushering in the New Year 2026 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.

In the hills of Himachal Pradesh, people welcomed the New Year 2026 in Dharamshala, with chilly weather doing little to dampen festive spirits. Similarly, tourists in Sonamarg, Jammu and Kashmir, welcomed the New Year amid snow-clad landscapes, as they burst firecrackers and clicked pictures.

Central India also witnessed grand celebrations as people in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, welcomed the New Year with fireworks and danced to Bollywood music at special events.

In South India, Hyderabad saw large crowds celebrating with fireworks, music, and late-night festivities across key locations.

In Varanasi, people celebrasted the New year's arrival by joining the first Aaarti of the year on the banks of Ganges:

#WATCH | Devotees gather in large numbers at Assi Ghat to attend the Ganga aarti on the first day of #NewYear2026 in #Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/USs2NKO5Hu
— DD News (@DDNewslive) January 1, 2026

The national capital, New Delhi, witnessed New Year celebrations at key locations, including Connaught Place and at India Gate, where crowds gathered to welcome 2026.

People click pictures of a board decorated with “Vande Mataram” on the eve of New Year, in New Delhi

In Amritsar, devotees thronged Shri Harmandir Sahib to offer prayers and seek blessings as the clock struck midnight, ushering in the New Year.

Across India, citizens welcomed the New Year 2026 with optimism, celebrating with their families and friends, as police teams in each state worked to maintain law and order in their respective zones to prevent any untoward incidents.

ALSO READ: Five must-read stories of harmony to usher in 2026 with optimism

In Bengaluru, fireworks once again lit up the skyline as residents marked the start of 2026, while authorities maintained security and traffic arrangements across the Silicon Valley of India.