People across Tamil Nadu ushered in the New Year with prayers and devotion as special midnight masses were held in churches across the State. The churches were beautifully decorated and illuminated to mark the occasion. Thousands of faithful thronged the Santhome Basilica in Chennai, the Velankanni Church in Besant Nagar, and other churches to attend the midnight services.
Special poojas and abhishekams were also performed in major temples across Tamil Nadu, where security was tightened with the deployment of armed police. People dressed in new clothes visited temples early in the morning to offer prayers. Large crowds were witnessed at the Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple, and Vadapalani Murugan Temple in Chennai.
Elsewhere, devotees flocked to prominent shrines including the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Varadharajaswamy Temple in Kancheepuram, Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Kamatchi Amman Temple in Kancheepuram, and the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. Huge crowds were also seen at all six abodes of Lord Muruga. Police maintained tight security statewide to ensure peaceful New Year celebrations and prevent any untoward incidents.