New Delhi, Dec. 28 (PTI): President A P J Abdul Kalam, has decided not to have any celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhawan on New Year as a mark of respect to thousands of people who lost their lives and those rendered homeless by the December 26 killer quakes in India and other countries.

Unlike in the previous years, the President will not receive Rashtrapati Bhavan employees or visitors to exchange new year greetings on both December 31, 2004 and January 1, 2005, Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman S M Khan, said.

"The President has taken this decision as a mark of respect for thousands of people who lost their lives and many more left homeless by the calamitous event of December 26 in India and other countries," he said.