AP Rings In 2026 With Prayer, Parties and Peace

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh welcomed the New Year 2026 with a blend of prayer, celebration and festivity across cities, towns, beaches, tourist centres and places of worship, with police maintaining tight security to ensure peaceful celebrations.

Large crowds gathered late on Wednesday night in Vijayawada, Guntur, Bapatla, Nellore, Ongole, Eluru, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and other urban centres to usher in the New Year. In Visakhapatnam, Beach Road turned into a major hub of celebrations, with police regulating traffic and pedestrian movement.

Hotels, clubs and resorts hosted special New Year parties featuring live music and DJ events, while families, youth and tourists enjoyed the festive ambience along beaches and public spaces. The celebrations continued into the early hours of January 1.

Across the State, households marked the New Year with traditional practices. Families cleaned their homes, drew muggu (rangoli) at entrances, decorated doorways with mango-leaf toranalu, and lit oil lamps to symbolise hope, prosperity and positive beginnings.

Devotees thronged temples such as Kanaka Durga, Mangalagiri Panakala Narasimha Swamy and other prominent shrines, offering prayers and seeking blessings for health, peace and success. Christian believers attended midnight services on New Year’s Eve and special prayers on Thursday.

Street-side food stalls selling cakes, pastries and snacks did brisk business through the night, with biryani emerging as the clear favourite. From Vijayawada and Guntur to Machilipatnam, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Ongole and Bapatla, major roads and junctions wore a carnival-like look as people stepped out after midnight to celebrate.

Wine shops and bars, permitted to operate till midnight, saw heavy footfall. At the same time, police enforced drunken-driving checks, traffic diversions and restrictions on large gatherings to prevent untoward incidents. Officials said celebrations passed off peacefully across the state.

At Tadipathri Joy Park, New Year celebrations drew special attention, with Tadipathri Municipal Chairman J.C. Prabhakar Reddy leading the festivities. A Ladies-Only New Year’s Eve programme on December 31 featured music and dance performances. Dance competitions for school students were held on December 29, followed by events for college students on December 30. Tadipathri MLA J.C. Ashmit Reddy also participated in the celebrations.

In Tirupati, the New Year was welcomed with lively celebrations across residential colonies, hotels and university campuses. Firecrackers, greetings and gatherings marked the midnight hour, with the festive mood continuing into the morning.

Tourist spots such as the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Regional Science Centre and Kapila Theertham attracted steady crowds, while Chandragiri Fort and Talakona Waterfalls also saw increased footfall. Hotels and restaurants reported good business, and local transport services remained in demand as visitors moved between Tirupati, Tirumala and nearby destinations.

Officials said the celebrations across the state concluded smoothly, reflecting a balance between festive enthusiasm and effective crowd management.

Grandeur and festive fervour marked New Year celebrations across Nellore and Ongole on Thursday, with people gathering at major junctions, shopping complexes, eateries and hotels from late Wednesday night to welcome 2026.

Friends and families exchanged greetings at public places, while police maintained a visible presence at key locations to ensure smooth celebrations. Several residential colonies joined in, with residents bursting crackers at midnight in select areas.

Temples and churches, decorated for the occasion, witnessed heavy footfall from the early hours. Special midnight masses were held in churches across both districts, drawing large congregations.

Sweet shops and bakeries did brisk business, opening extra counters to meet demand. Fruit and flower vendors also reported good sales as people bought offerings and greeting bouquets.

Meanwhile, senior officials, TD leaders and party cadres paid New Year courtesy calls on ministers P. Narayana and Anam Ramanarayana Reddy in Nellore. The ministers received visitors well into the afternoon, reflecting the festive mood. Officials said the celebrations passed off peacefully across both cities.

— With inputs from MD Ilyas, Laxmi Pranathi, Aruna, Avinash P. Subramanyam, Pathri Rajasekhar, Nagabhushanam Hoskote and Vadrevu Srinivas