India (Commonwealth Union)_ India welcomed the New Year with enthusiasm and color, as people throughout the country stepped out to welcome 2026. From major cities to tiny communities, streets and public spaces were alive with fireworks, music, and cultural events. Cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar, and Bengaluru saw enormous crowds enjoying themed decorations, live entertainment, and late-night celebrations. In Mumbai, Marine Drive remained full well into midnight, with families and young people gathering along the coastline despite the thick crowds.
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Delhi’s Connaught Place also saw a strong turnout, even as the capital experienced a sharp drop in temperature, making it one of the coldest New Year’s Eves in recent years. Marking the start of the New Year, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed their greetings to citizens across the country and Indians living abroad. Both leaders described the New Year as an opportunity to look ahead with optimism, renew their collective resolve, and work together for the nation’s progress.
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Prime Minister Modi, in his New Year message, wished people good health, prosperity, and confidence in the year ahead. He stated that the approaching year should inspire renewed optimism and drive, urging citizens to go forward with purpose. The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of the fundamental values of knowledge, courage, patience, and self-reliance, explaining their relationship to the development of both the individual and the nation. The Prime Minister feels that training individuals with these values leads to building a more confident and stronger nation.
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In her comments, President Murmu indicated that the New Year is a period of new beginnings and reflection. She invited individuals to use this occasion to create meaningful goals and increase their commitment to the continued growth of the country. The president expressed the importance of harmony among all people in society and being responsible toward the environment, stating that individuals should positively contribute to the future of India. She added that she has confidence that 2026 will bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to all citizens and continue to build India’s strength as a united nation.
Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi, a Congress politician and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, sent out his New Year wishes to the nation and expressed his desire for people to have a happy, prosperous, and healthy year. In closing the celebrations for the previous year and welcoming the new year with new optimism, several leaders from all political ideologies are displaying an overwhelming enthusiasm for the new year.
