AP, Telangana usher in New Year with festivities

Hyderabad:  The residents of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ushered in the New Year with gala celebrations on Wednesday even as a heavy rush of pilgrims thronged the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara on account of 'Vaikunta Ekadasi'.

New year parties had been organised since evening at different venues in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, where the capital of (new) Andhra Pradesh is coming up, in which film stars, singers, models and others participated. Police have put in place elaborate security arrangements in both the states to see that no untoward incidents take place during the new year celebrations. Governor ESL Narasimhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and other leaders wished the people on the occasion. Naidu left for Vijayawada today to be in his state on the first day of the New Year. He would be in Vijayawada and West Godavari district on Thursday. A heavy rush of pilgrims is being reported from the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala Tirupati on account of 'Vaikunta Ekadasi' on Thursday. The darshan of Lord Vishnu in temples is highly venerated on the occasion. Devotees are also expected to visit different temples in large numbers in the two states on Thursday.