VIJAYAWADA: Thousands of devotees offered prayers at various temples and churches in the city here on Sunday as part of New Year celebrations. The New Year was welcomed amidst colourful celebrations and exchange of greetings since Saturday night. Denizens burst crackers to welcome the New Year.
Special prayers were held in the churches on Saturday midnight to welcome the New Year. Special programmes were held on Sunday morning and the people greeted one another.
Interestingly, it was the youth who turned out in good numbers at the temples.
As the day dawned, the devotees thronged Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri. The temple was beautifully decked up for New Year. While the inner portals of the main temple were decorated with a varied assortment of flowers, the external environs were colourfully illuminated.
Likewise, huge crowds also thronged Vinayaka Temple on Canal Road which was spruced up for the occasion. Lord Ayyappa Swamy Temple near Gollapudi, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vari Temple, Labbipeta and Saibaba Temple near Maris Stella College was abuzz with students. Free meals were distributed to the poor at several churches in Christurajpuram and clothes were distributed by the Bishops in Gunadala Mary Matha Church.