HUBLI: Heavy security on the eve of New Year has become common in urban and semi-urban areas recently. However, it became a sort of hindrance for revellers in the twin cities on Sunday.

Revelry at midnight for ringing in the New Year has become a ritual especially with youngsters these days.

At midnight on Sunday, many wanted to welcome the New Year by partying late into the night, which was not permitted by the police as a preventive measure.

They arranged for additional forces this year as Bakrid was also on the same day. The heavy security led to some of the revellers arguing with police personnel in some areas.

Their only grouse was that they were not being allowed to party late into the night. As a preventive measure, the police had directed bars, restaurants and liquor shops to close down by 11.30 p.m.

The act of penalising the revellers for drunken driving also led to quarrel at some places. However, timely action by the personnel prevented any sort of disturbance in the twin cities. Meanwhile, the young and the old welcomed the New Year in their own way. In many of the apartments, it was a warm get together with exchange of greetings after the clock struck 12.

Celebrations

Some of them chose to take a midnight stroll and greeted passers-by and neighbours. In some residential areas music programmes especially orchestras were arranged to usher in the New Year apart from sweets and bursting of crackers to mark the beginning of a New Year.

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