By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Like every year, people in Kerala welcomed the New Year in typical style by bursting crackers, offering prayers and partying. The New Year Eve bash at Kovalam beach was the grandest – as always.
While devout Christians attended midnight mass at churches, others went partying at hotels and pubs.
The revelry in the three major cities – Kochi, Kozhikode and the state capital here – went on late into the night.
The famed Kovalam beach, some 16 km from here, witnessed the maximum revelry. All the resorts located there did very good business.
“We had 30 percent more crowd than last year at our resort,” said Sudhish Kumar, who owns a plush seaside resort on Kovalam beach.
“Kovalam beach was overflowing with people at around 3 a.m.,” he said.
However, the revelry took an unpleasant turn for some tourists during a bash at the beach side in Kochi. Some women tourists complained of harassment.
“We had a pretty bad experience when my daughter was grabbed from behind by some men. This is bad. If you don’t respect people who come here, not many would be interested to see your great country,” said an angry Kirsten, who has come with his family from Sweden.
One bit of bad news at the beginning of the year: there will be half an hour without electricity at the state capital every day, while a generator is being repaired.