Celebrations around the world are under way to mark the start of 2014.
People in Auckland, New Zealand, were among the first to celebrate. In Australia, hundreds of thousands gathered for a spectacular firework display around Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.
East Asian cities were next to ring in the new year, with Beijing, Jakarta and Singapore all hosting celebrations.
Among other cities planning big firework displays, Dubai will aim for a world record for the largest display.
Tens of thousands of spectators watched the fireworks over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.
The Chinese city of Wuhan called off its display in order to avoid worsening the city’s smog problem.
In Japan, Shinto priests gathered at shrines. Japanese people traditionally visit shrines and temples to pray for their families at this time.
It's not just about fireworks - Japanese people traditionally visit shrines and temples to pray for their families at New Year,
Dubai’s fireworks display will be streamed live on the internet. Organisers say it will stretch over 30 miles (50km) of seafront, with the highest fireworks reaching more than one kilometre in height.
The show, which begins at 20:00 GMT, will feature a flying falcon made out of fireworks that will move across the island Gulf state.
Later on, festivities will be held in European cities including Moscow, Paris and London.
In the New Zealand town of Queenstown, revellers partied ahead of the New Year,
Women in traditional costumes danced during a parade for 2013's last sundown on Bali, Indonesia
Sydney started celebrations early with a "family" fireworks session at 21:00 local time
Three hours later, an even more spectacular display lit up the famous Harbour Bridge,
The organisers of London’s display have said crowds watching the show along the banks of the Thames will be able to “taste” the atmosphere, with flavoured mist, “snow” and confetti released.
Spectators will also get scratch ‘n’ sniff programmes and fruit sweets.
Cape Town in South Africa is planning a free concert with lasers, fireworks and a special 3D tribute to former President Nelson Mandela, who died on 5 December.
New York will mark the new year with the traditional New Year’s Eve countdown and ball drop over Times Square, while Rio de Janeiro is once again expecting more than two million people to pack its Copacabana beach.
Related articles
- Australia to kick off 2014 celebrations (skynews.com.au)
- Crowds and fireworks welcome 2014 (bbc.co.uk)
- Revelers start ringing in 2014 with fireworks (news.yahoo.com)
- Sparkling Sydney kicks off glitzy global 2014 party (modernghana.com)
- Sparkling Sydney kicks off glitzy global 2014 party (en.starafrica.com)
- Clouds don’t dampen New Year fireworks (skynews.com.au)
- New Year’s Eve 2013 video: Watch New Zealand’s fireworks display highlights as they are first to welcome 2014 (mirror.co.uk)
- Revelers worldwide begin ringing in 2014 (worldnews.nbcnews.com)
- New Year’s Eve 2013: London to TASTE fireworks in first ever multi-sensory display to celebrate 2014 (mirror.co.uk)
- New Year’s Eve 2013: Dubai attempts to break Guinness World Record for largest firework display (mirror.co.uk)
Posted By Mantosh Pal
newsfront 
You must be logged in to post a comment.