World breaks into song and dance to ring in 2008

Over a million revelers cheered as fireworks sprayed from Sydney's iconic Harbor Bridge in a massive display at the stroke of midnight as Australia ushered in 2008 and kicked off worldwide New Year celebrations on Monday night.

At New York's Times Square, the New Year's Eve Ball celebrated its centennial with more than a million revelers witnessing the lowering of the ball, which went 'green' this time. The motif this year was 'Let there be light' and featured a stylised, radiating sunburst on each of the 672 crystal triangles on the ball, creating a kaleidoscope of hues.

In Thailand and the Philippines, however, New Year-related explosions caused many casualties, dumping the celebrations. New Year revelers were among 27 people wounded when suspected Muslim insurgents set off five bombs early Monday in a tourist town on the Malaysian border. Three people were injured when fire tore through firecracker stalls in the Philippines.

While fear of terror violence subdued festivities in all major cities world over, Sydney, as always, stood out with a spectacular fireworks display as the New Year began in the Asia-Pacific region. Thousands staked out harborside vantage points with beach umbrellas and ice boxes from first light on Monday to enjoy Australia's annual centerpiece celebration.

Others joined a flotilla of 3,000 boats beneath the giant steel arch bridge for what organizers billed as the world's largest fireworks show. In 12 minutes, Australian $600,000 exploded in colour from the bridge, floating barges and city high-rise roof tops.

In Australia's largest city, about a million people crowded along the waterfront or aboard boats in Sydney Harbor to enjoy the annual midnight show. Hundreds of thousands cheered as skyrockets erupted over the harbor and the stylised image of an hour glass appeared in lights on the bridge span.

In India, New Year revellers thronged the streets of Delhi and markets notwithstanding the biting cold and a general alert to ring in the year 2008. Markets, decorated with lights, wore a festive look as shoppers rushed in for their final purchases and merry-makers chilled out at eternal favourite spots Connaught Place and India Gate.

Courtesy:ibnlive.com
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