New Year celebrated across Goa

Panaji: New Year was celebrated across Goa by locals as well as tourists amid mid-night masses at churches and fireworks on scenic beaches of the state on Wednesday.    Among people who welcomed New Year was Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar who was on a private visit to the state after visiting Maharashtra. He last week he visited Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra where his father hails from.    Catholics in the state attended various churches across the state where mid-night masses were held. Various programmes were organised across the state, specially in coastal belts to usher in new year.    In the morning people visited temples and took blessings of Gods and Goddesses. Huge crowd was seen at beaches of the state which included Miramar, Calangute, Candolim, Baga, Sinqueri, Keri and Morjim in North Goa and Colva, Betalbhatim, Palolem and Galjibag in South Goa.    Security was tightened ahead of the new year celebrations across the state. State police had deployed extra Indian Reserve battalion (IRB) and General Reserve Police (GRP) personnel in coastal areas.    Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Governor Satya Pal Malik and other prominent leaders of the state had greeted people on the occasion.