Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Even as it is getting closer to midnight, the entire state is in a festive mode to welcome the New Year 2011.

People of all walks of life are celebrating the New Year eve across the state in their respective styles. Hotels and other eateries, theatres, parks are thronged by New Year revelers in large numbers. Almost all hotels in the Capital city, keeping the huge demand in mind, have arranged special programmes in the evening. Most of them have also roped in artistes from Mumbai, New Delhi and other parts of the country to add glamour quotient to their New Year eve programmes.

Tourist places like Puri, Konark, Gopalpur, Phulbani, Paradip and Chilika are also abuzz with visitors from different parts of the state. At several places, people were also seen preparing bonfires to welcome the Year 2011. These apart, family get-to-gather, school and college reunions also marked the pre-New Year celebration for many.

The vendors of greeting cards and flowers also did a brisk business today.
The holy town of Puri witnessed lakhs of devotees from across the country and beyond to spend the first day of 2011 here.

In Bhubaneswar, the festivity also remained equally high. The denizens, in their respective styles, were ready to welcome the New Year in a grand manner.
The Nandankanan Zoological Park, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Science Park, State Museum and other such places witnessed very large number of visitors.
The hotels, shopping malls and other business establishments were decked up to attract customer, particularly the youths. 

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