Date:01/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010150530200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Vizagites welcome New Year in style

A girl selecting gifts for the New Year at a shop in Visakhapatnam

Burying the shadow of recession and terror, Vizagites welcomed the New Year in style. The mood was upbeat and the city looked like a newly-wedded bride. The ambience was electrifying and everybody seemed to be on the move. Shoppers were busy making last minute purchases to dress up to the occasion and even the beauty parlours saw a steady stream of visitors. Be it the men or the women, people trooped into the parlours for facials and touch ups to look their best.

This year, the fashion revolved round the indo-western fusion wear. While the women preferred trendy party wear, the men preferred blazers on denims and printed shirts. All the hotels, bakers, restaurants, pubs and sweet shops were tastefully decorated for the occasion. Even the florists and roadside fruit vendors did brisk business. People were seen buying flower bouquets till late in the night.

To add up to the tempo the five-star hotels and pubs dished out well-designed programmes and theme parties to keep the revellers in good mood.

Scintillating performances

The Park added international flavour to the revelry by bringing in Hollywood dancer Roxana Titarciuc. The hotel organised a grand buffet and the Hollywood dancer and Bollywood item dancer Yasmin Khan set the seaside lawns ablaze with their sensual moves. At their banquet hall Neptune, the hotel organised another show and item performer from Kolkata Kaushiki performed with her troupe ‘Krazy Kats’.

People rocked hard at Hotel Grand Bay in tune with the hotel’s theme ‘Rock on’. The party buffs were also treated to a well spread buffet.

The belly dancer from Kolkata, Sonali, sent the revellers at The Gateway Hotel, to a tizzy high with her silken moves and shakes. The music was set high by DJ Adroite and MC Priyanka rolled the show effectively. While the snacks and the beverages were served at the deck the extravagant buffet was spread at the hotel’s banquet hall, Godavari.

Cine playback singers Geeta Madhuri and Naidu Babu entertained the guests at Hotel Daspalla. Accompanying the singers was the musical troupe Saragamalika. Item dancers Leena and Pooja set the stage ablaze with racy dance numbers. RJ Satya compeered the show.