With glittering skies, loud music and delicious foods at several events held on 31st night at different places in the Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur, people enthusiastically welcomed the New Year-2023 by coming out from the fear of COVID-19 pandemic.

After the midnight celebration, people were seen starting the first day on the New Year by offering prayers at temples. Almost all the prominent temples in State Capital witnessed huge turnout of people. Later on the day, Raipurians were seen spending time with their families at parks and enjoying food at restaurants/food joints in and outskirts of the city.

Amid adequate security arrangements, various events hosted at hotels, cafes, lounges and places particularly located on VIP Road and other parts of the city on 31st night were held peacefully. As the numbers of COVID cases dropped significantly across State, people overcoming the scare of infection participated in the events zealously, enjoyed loud music and delicious foods as well as drinks. Besides high-voltage events, cafes and restaurants marked presence of people loving calmness.

Most restaurants in the city meanwhile had specialised New Year lunch, brunch and dinner arranged with many add-ons, including live music, food fests, special buffets and ‘unlimited’ offers. Apart from restaurants, hotels and food joints, this New Year came as a boon for online food delivering service providers. Even as crackers hit the sky at midnight, terraces became celebration zones with family get-togethers, home-made buffets and neighbours greeting each other across each other’s terraces