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Dusk to dawn

Puducherry was buzzing with activity on New Year's eve

PHOTO: T. SINGARAVELOU

A SERENE BEGINNING The bonfire at the Matri Mandir

All roads led to Puducherry on December 31. Zooming bikes, fast cars and over loaded buses, the ECR buzzed with people. The tiny Union Territory was the place to be on New Year's eve and night. Hotels, guest houses and lodges were fully booked. Like everywhere else, hotels here had lavish buffets, music and parties.

On the dot of midnight colourful crackers lit up the night sky. Residential associations too had their own celebrations on open terraces with festoons, balloons, cakes and crackers.

Not just the streets and roads, the mobile networks too were jammedSome mobile service providers wished their subscribers a Happy New Year and sms-ed to say that "free sms" on January 1 would be charged! And so everyone started messaging on December 31.

At Auroville, a serene atmosphere prevailed on the New Year morning. As is the tradition, a huge bonfire was lit in the Matri Mandir complex and Aurovilians and visitors gathered, listening to a recording of the Mother's voice.

The Pavilion of Tibetan Culture inside Auroville organised a cultural extravaganza, along with the Tibetan Students' Association, from December 22 to 24 to welcome the New Year. It featured dance and music, traditional Tibetan food, exhibition on Tibetan costume, a photo exhibition, video shows and books on Tibetan medicine.

On December 31 there was a light mandala, a prayer for peace at the pavilion.

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