With the recent gruesome Delhi gang-rape and the victim’s death fresh in their minds, many Bangaloreans are in no mood to celebrate the New Year.
Even regular revellers are planning to keep it a low-key affair.
While many hotels, restaurants and pubs in the city that minted moolah during Christmas, continued to offer discounted passes even on the last day of 2012, their hopes of ending 2012 on a high note business-wise have been dashed thanks to the gloom in the air.
Many in the city who made lavish plans for the big day have either cut down on their plans or have cancelled them completely.
On the other hand, many socially active Bangaloreans will be heading to Freedom Park and Cubbon Park where all-night peaceful gatherings have been planned.
“We do not want to make a big show to display the anger in our hearts or mourn for the victim.
The least we can do is meet at a place and start the New Year with the hope that this country will rise from the pit of shame,” said Jai Kumar, one of the organisers of an all-nighter in memory of the victim.
“We will put together entertainment acts and it will be like a New Year celebration, but we will pledge to find a solution to the problems facing women in our country,” he added.
Meanwhile, the regular party hot spots claim the number of people attending new year bashes has dipped.
“Each year, the ten days leading up to the New Year is peak time for our business.
This year there were many early bird registrations but in the last one week, it is as if people have lost the zeal to party.
Quite justifiable as the country has witnessed something that is so heinous,” said Victor Vaaz, a party organiser in the city.