Celebrations rocked India and different parts of the world as people welcomed a hopeful and fresh beginning after a year roiled by an ongoing genocide, multiple conflicts and political instabilities.
New Zealand's Auckland was the first major city to start off the New Year celebrations with colorful fireworks launched from the country's tallest structure, Sky Tower, and a spectacular downtown light show.
Countries in the South Pacific Ocean are the first to ring in the New Year, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York.
In her New Year greetings to the country, President of India Droupadi Murmu urged everyone to take "our society and nation" further on the path of unity and excellence.
The coming of the new year marks the beginning of new hopes, dreams and aspirations, she said in a message.
The occasion provides an opportunity to march forward with renewed vigour to fulfil "our wishes", Murmu said.
"Let us welcome the new year with joy and enthusiasm and take our society and nation further on the path of unity and excellence," she said.
The president extended her "heartiest greetings and best wishes to all Indians, living in India and abroad."
Thousands of police personnel and CCTV cameras were deployed and traffic was regulated across states to ensure public safety and prevent any untoward incident as the country geared up to welcome 2025.
Traffic police personnel armed with alcometers were deployed at prominent places in major cities to check drunk driving.
Nearly 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Delhi to check hooliganism and traffic violations on New Year's Eve, a senior police official said.
In Maharashtra, more than 14,000 police personnel have been deployed in Mumbai as part of elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order on New Year's Eve.
These include more than 12,000 police constables, 2,184 officers, 53 assistant commissioners, 29 deputy commissioners and eight additional commissioner-rank officers, an official said.
Large gatherings are expected at prominent places in the city, including Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaon Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, Juhu and Versova beaches.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said more than 7,500 CCTV cameras have been installed across Bengaluru and special picket arrangements and enhanced police deployment have been made to ensure public safety.
The government has permitted New Year celebrations in the city only till 1 am.
In Gujarat too, security has been beefed up. A senior officer said 6,000 police personnel have been deployed in Ahmedabad and security has been enhanced at popular spots.
Gaza genocide, Ukraine war and multiple conflicts cast shadow on celebrations
New Year's celebrations are likely to be subdued in Israel as its "genocide" on Gaza continues through the 15th month and hostages remain in captivity. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza crossed 45,500 on Monday as Israeli airtsrikes killed 27 people, mostly women and children.
As many as five babies froze to death in recent days amid Israel's continuous blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Lebanon is in the grip of a severe economic crisis, and many areas were heavily damaged during the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a shaky ceasefire. Syrians are meanwhile expressing hope and uncertainty for the coming year after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.
War rages on in Ukraine as several residential buildings and educational facilities were hit by Russian missile attacks on Tuesday.
"On this New Year's Eve, the thoughts, hopes of relatives and friends, millions of people across Russia are together with our fighters and commanders," Russian President Vladmir Putin declared in his New Year greetings to the country, vowing to continue the war.
"We will only go forward," he said.
Sunita Williams to see 16 sunrises and sunsets on New Year
American astronaut Sunita Williams will see 16 sunrises and sunsets on New Year as she will spend the beginning of 2025 at the International Space Station.
"As 2024 comes to a close today, the Exp 72 crew will see 16 sunrises and sunsets while soaring into the New Year. Seen here are several sunsets pictured over the years from the orbital outpost," the space station wrote in a message on X.
The extraordinary sights will happen as Williams along with her crew at the space station will be orbiting the earth at roughly 400 kilometres above.
According to media reports, the crew's New Year festivities will include special meals prepared from fresh ingredients supplied from the earth and video communications with their loved ones.
Asia gets ready for the Year of the Snake
Much of Japan has shut down ahead of the nation's biggest holiday, as temples and homes underwent a thorough cleaning, including swatting floor mats called "tatami" with big sticks.
The upcoming Year of the Snake in the Asian zodiac is heralded as one of rebirth — alluding to the reptile's shedding skin. Stores in Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle from Jan. 1, have been selling tiny figures of smiling snakes and other snake-themed products. Other places in Asia will start marking the Year of the Snake later, with the Lunar New Year.
In South Korea, celebrations were cut back or canceled as the country observes a period of national mourning following the Sunday crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan that killed 179 people.
In Thailand's Bangkok, two major shopping malls competed for crowds with live musical acts and fireworks shows. While CentralWorld is the older venue, relative newcomer ICONSIAM has the scenic advantage of its Chao Phraya riverside location and a performance by popular rap singer Lisa, the Thai member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, scheduled just ahead of midnight.
New Year celebrations in Jakarta will feature a dazzling fireworks display, including a drone show featuring 800 drones, followed by countdowns to midnight at the city's iconic Hotel Indonesia Roundabout.
West's rivals exchange goodwill
Chinese state media covered an exchange of New Year's greetings between leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a reminder of growing closeness between two leaders who face tensions with the West.
Xi told Putin that their countries will "always move forward hand in hand," the official Xinhua News Agency said Tuesday.
China has maintained ties and robust trade with Russia since the latter invaded Ukraine in 2022, helping to offset Western sanctions and attempts to isolate Putin.
China's leader in his prerecorded New Year's Eve address said the country has "deepened solidarity and cooperation with the global South" while praising the "responsible" role it has played with "the world in turmoil."
Xi also said China's economy, which has slowed down in recent years, was "improving and recovering."
He also addressed Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing. "We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family. No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us," Xi said.
In his address to the nation, Putin said that Russia has responded to the most difficult challenges and will be moving forward next year.
"We set big goals for ourselves and achieved them, and we overcame difficulties more than once because we were together. This is how our unity and our faith in ourselves and our strengths and capabilities grew stronger," he said.
Putin praised troops fighting in Ukraine as "the true heroes who have taken on the great task of defending Russia and providing the solid guarantees of peace and security for our people."
Midnight Mass, with bubbles
Rome's traditional New Year's Eve festivities have an additional draw: the start of Pope Francis' Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration projected to bring some 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City in 2025.
On Tuesday, Francis will celebrate a vespers at St. Peter's Basilica, followed by Mass on Wednesday, when he is expected to once again appeal for peace amid wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota will host an 11 p.m. Mass followed by a champagne reception with toasts. Jan. 1 is a day of obligation for Catholics, marking the Solemnity of Mary, and many churches will hold vigil Masses on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
American traditions old and new
In New York City, the organization managing Times Square has tested its famous ball drop, and inspected 2025 numerals, lights and thousands of crystals, as part of a tradition going back to 1907. This year's celebration will include musical performances by TLC, Jonas Brothers, Rita Ora, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
The party, covering multiple blocks around the city's main tourism and theater hub, is expected to draw large crowds despite rain and chilly weather.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas will bid farewell to 2024 with old — and some new — traditions. Its annual eight-minute pyrotechnic show will be on in the Las Vegas Strip, with 340,000 people anticipated as fireworks are launched from the rooftops of nine casinos.
Nearby, the massive Sphere venue will display for the first time countdowns to midnight in different time zones.
Country music, football and a midnight race
In Pasadena, enthusiastic Rose Parade spectators were to camp out on the cold streets and ring in the New Year hoping for prime spots for the iconic Southern California tradition. The parade precedes the Rose Bowl football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks on Jan. 1.
Thousands are to participate in a midnight 5K race following the parade route.
Some 200,000 people will flock to a party in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring a five-hour show by some of country music's biggest stars. At midnight — an hour after New York's — a 16-feet tall music note weighing 400 pounds will drop as fireworks light the sky.
Celebrations will echo around the globe as the New Year arrives in different time zones, with American Samoa among the last to welcome 2025 a full 24 hours after New Zealand.
(With inputs from PTI, AP)
