Leaving behind the sorrowful days of Nipah outbreak and devastating floods, the city on Monday found its joy in humble celebrations to sign off the last day of 2018. Majority of the hotels that hosted special new year celebrations were full of families. Despite the intense vigil by the police and restrictions on late-night parties, the tourism spots in the village areas too remained active on the new year eve.
Though it was a working day, the Kozhikode beach, one of the major destinations for public gathering, witnessed good turnout on Monday too, where the police had put in place some traffic regulations. Taking into account public safety, no open celebrations were entertained on the beach. Also, vehicles with solo riders were denied entry to the spot.
Music concerts were the choice for many urban residents who hosted private ghazal nites to celebrate the occasion. Private event organisers in the city too hosted ghazal parties to attract music buffs on the day. Some of the homestays in the rural areas too offered special new year eve celebrations for tourists.
For many residents’ associations in the city, there were humble gatherings on Monday evening to celebrate the occasion with cultural programmes of their own members. There were also food fests to spice up the occasion in some of the residential areas. “We hosted the food fest mainly to feel the joy of sharing on the New Year eve. Residents themselves cooked a variety of food and brought to a common venue for sharing among members,” said Sreejith, a member of the West Kara Residents Association.
In the wake of the State-wide alert on possible rave parties and drug trafficking, the police deployment was strong in the city and rural areas. Plainclothesmen had been deployed in several locations covering major railway stations, bus stands and streets.
The intensified vigil resulted in the arrest of two carriers who purchased party drugs for secret celebrations.