By Madhuri Dey
Jan. 01, (THAINDIAN NEWS) New year is welcomed at Times Square by dropping a ball. Weird it may sound, but Ne Year celebrations at Times Square is entirely different from that of any other place. Every year, visitors from all parts of the country travel far and wide to witness the biggest festival to welcome the new year. The event boasts a throng that makes up not only the commoners from around the country, but also a host of celebrities who either come over to witness the gala event, or else are invited to perform at the event. The event is broadcast live in different networks, and is also streamed live on the internet.

Each year, the countdown begins at Times Square with ten seconds to go for the new year to set in. As the crowd chants, the ball, made of crystal and lit up with electric lights, is dropped from the top of the Times Square building, and reaches the bottom of the pole in a minute. Every year, there are about a million people who assemble to watch the momentous event, and a billion more watch it on television or the live streams. This year, like the rest, there were a number of celebrities assembled to perform at the event, the likes of Daughtry and Jennifer Lopez.

The Ball Drop ceremony at Times Square this year was graced by the presence of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was there to drop the ball, helped in the process by some of the top students of the city. As the ball reached the bottom of the pole, confetti floated in the air, about three thousand pounds of it, and many in the crowd hugged and kissed each other amidst the strains of “Auld Lang Syne.”