India welcomed the New Year 2026 with widespread celebrations across major cities and popular tourist destinations. Despite freezing temperatures in hill stations like Shimla and Manali, these locations saw heavy tourist inflow. Metropolitan centers including Delhi and Mumbai, as well as areas like Jammu and Kashmir's Lal Chowk, hosted large gatherings. Authorities implemented heightened security measures, deployed additional personnel, and managed traffic to ensure orderly festivities amid significant crowds.