Party time

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 31: As the midnight parties end, the residents of Bhubaneswar would be on a positive high with resolutions on their lips as they head home in the small hours of 2014.

Religious sites, as is the tradition every year, are expecting a beeline of devotees who would wait hours for their turn to get blessings from the divine for the New Year. From youngsters to senior citizens, everyone wants a share of divine grace. The Jagannath temple in Puri has visitors lined up by midnight itself.

“We are ready with arrangements used for worship. New Year pulls everyone — from non-believers to the devout — to the temple. Some wish for success in exams, while others pray for happiness, love, property, peace at home and so on,” said Prafulla Mohapatra, a priest at a temple in Delta Square.

But blessings are not all that revellers seek on January 1. Gym owners are also ready to welcome the rush on 2014’s first morning. “We see enthusiastic young and old people who take resolutions to train and get their fitness back. But, usually, this continues only for the first week and then most drop out. We wish that they continue the fitness regime throughout the year,” said Subhendu, trainer at a Rasulgarh gym.

Despite the hangover of late night parties, undergraduate student Lopamudra Satpathy said: “I have decided to maintain a diary this year and keep a record of all the good and bad events that happen daily in my life.”

Lopamundra and her ilk’s love for keeping diaries have left Sarat Sahu, who deals in diaries and calendars, all smiles.

“The sales were already good, but on New Year many buyers flock for calendars and diaries,” he said.

Though social networking sites were flooded with New Year greetings, messages and e-cards, shops selling greeting cards and gifts also enjoyed good business.

With the tradition of flower power still in vogue, florists are also doing good business.

“We will gift flowers to our friends and relatives on Wednesday morning. This will be followed by exchange of sweets to usher in the New Year on a sweet note,” said Bharati Pradhan, a resident of the IRC Village area.

On Tuesday night, the city glowed with bright lights decorated on all government buildings, as well as many private houses and offices.

In the residential areas, the New Year celebrations saw a flurry of fireworks, while rangolis coloured several streets.