Delhiites flock to religious places on first day of 2025

Delhiites flooded streets, markets and religious places to ring in the New Year with vibrant celebrations. From early morning prayers at temples to bustling shopping streets, the city buzzed with life on the first day of 2025.

Popular spots such as Connaught Place, Hauz Khas and India Gate, which were filled with crowds on New Year’s Eve, continued to attract revellers on January 1. In contrast to the nightlife-filled celebrations, many Delhiites also began the New Year by visiting religious places to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

Devotees flocked to famous temples like Jhandewalan Hanuman Temple, Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place and the Akshardham Temple to offer prayers and seek divine blessings. The air around these sacred places was filled with chants and prayers, as families made sure to start the year on a spiritual note. Likewise, the city’s prominent gurdwaras, including Rakab Ganj, Bangla Sahib and Sis Ganj Sahib, were filled with worshippers in the morning hours.

Even the Christian community came out in large numbers to seek blessings. Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Redemption and St Thomas Church saw a steady stream of people attending the New Year’s Day mass, requesting peace, happiness and prosperity for the year ahead.

Among those partaking in the day’s religious observances were Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and MP Praveen Khandelwal. Both visited and prayed at the historic Shri Narsingh Hanuman Mandir and Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, seeking prosperity and wellbeing for all Delhiites. Sachdeva also visited Shri Jagannath Temple in Hauz Khas, praying for a better life for the residents.

While the religious fervour filled the air, the city’s streets were equally filled with people heading to their favourite shopping destinations and gathering spots. But with this high footfall came inevitable traffic congestion. The Capital saw severe traffic snarls, particularly near key hubs like Connaught Place and India Gate, as revellers and commuters contended with roadblocks and diversions.

The traffic woes were compounded by the ongoing festivities. Several routes in and around Connaught Place were restricted by the Delhi Traffic Police to ensure safety and order, with areas like India Gate experiencing slow-moving traffic well into the afternoon.

While the traffic was a challenge for many, the city’s tourist spots also reported a significant uptick in visitor numbers. According to the PRO of the National Zoo in New Delhi, the zoo witnessed a record footfall of 25,343 visitors on New Year’s Day — outpacing the numbers from 2024 and 2023, which saw 18,221 and 24,161 visitors, respectively.