Although strictly speaking it is not an Indian festival since India's new year doesn't traditionally start on the first day of the Gregorian Calender adopted in most of the world, owing to long association with the British and the world's shrinking due to the availability of faster means of communication, New Year's Day along with its 'eve' have become almost an Indian festival. Even now, it is generally celebrated in the urban areas as the rural regions are still sticking to their old calenders. It has come to be celebrated in this century only. As is everywhere in the world, people start the celebrations right since the Christmas Day (25th December) which continue well beyond 1st January, the actual New Year's Day.

Since weather in most parts of India is very pleasant, at this time it is celebrated with gay abandon. Greetings and good wishes are exchanged, sweets are distributed, parties are thrown and people start wishing 'happy new year' right after 12 night. Greeting cards, good wishes messages are sent by the people to their friends and, near and dear ones.

The Christian minority in India celebrates this festival with traditional gaiety. The day starts with special services in the churches and then begins a round of never-ending festivities, merry-making, dancing, singing and feasting. At mid-night when the new year is ushered in and the church bells loudly toll to welcome the year, people in large number come out in the streets, market places and welcome the new year with fun and frolic. That night all the hotels and clubs have their long list of frolic filled activities continuing to the wee-hours of the morning. Despite the intense cold in the northern I el!ions the spirit of the revelers is never dampened.

This festival has now so markedly caught on in India, that in the big cities getting public transport on this night may be a herculean task - for either the taxi-tempo-auto rickshaw drivers are heavily engaged in merry-making or they are unmovable drunk. No wonder most of the drunken-driving cases are booked on this very year. Since this is essentially a foreign festival, nothing is prescribed on this day. Since on this day people do not want to spoil their year by picking up quarrels the unsocial elements also have a field day. Now our societal forces are coming forward to teach people as to how they can enjoy without disturbing other persons' new year eve or the new year day.

It is also an occasion of thanks-giving and prayer to God who in his extreme kindness has made us see this day. Exchanging costly gifts and starting new work on this day is also catching up with the people. Some traditional households have also started 'Indianising' this festival by holding special religious or musical concerts. With the advent of the Cable TV, now most of the peace-loving persons remain glued to their TV sets and enjoy the entertainment offered by the various channels. Since they love to celebrate festivals they have also accepted the New Year day as their own festival.