Come New Year and everybody is ready to party and have fun with their friends and families. The 31st night New Year eve is something that all people await for very eagerly as there is celebrations and fun in the air. While New Years for Chennaities is traditionally only in April( till last year as a Govt order officially announced that the first day of Thai month as Tamil New Year's day), youngsters firmly believe in the January 1st gala only. Says Radhakrishnan, a banker, "I feel our New Year is on April 14th only and there is so much of hype created over the Jan 1st New Year. People seem to be partying and going out. On 1st, I 'am going to spend my day watching TV as they put special programmes."

But now, New Years seems to be getting hi-fi as a lot of hotels and restaurants seem to be offering extravagant offers to dine and wine.

A lot of restaurants in the city are offering many options on 31st night and on 1st. Says Sangeetha, Sales Executive at Residency Towers, "Our hotel is offering Nyp 9- Mother of all New Year parties. We have the Crown, where one can catch the city's view from the top and dine, where the buffet will contain both Indian and International food. There will be a keyboard player playing and our dear Santa will be there to give gifts and waffles to everyone. There are also dance programme at Southern Aromas, a stylish dance floor at the Main Street and Lucky draw and games in Bike & Barrel, the pub." Seems like the Santa and gifts fever has still not lost in Chennai.

While Residency seems to be offering a wide range of fun, Park Sheraton seems to be no less. There is music and a lavish buffet in Carte Blanche at The Residency. The Sheraton Park also has a New Years ball at the Mowbrays Hall, where DJ Harry will entertain the crowd with awesome music.

For the tradionalists, Dakshin offers Rajopacharam while Dublin gets ready for the biggest party ever and all the favorite DJ's will be there to entertain the crowd. Ramprasad, In charge of the festivities desk says, "On 1st, we have a luxury Champagne Breakfast at Cappuccino and an elaborate buffet and a thali will be offered for both lunch and dinner."

While there is partying and dancing on one side, the are many who prefer holding a house party inviting friends home and throwing a party. Says Sriram Mohan, a college student "I prefer hosting a house party and calling my friends and celebrate. We order food from out and play music and just have fun. I see to it that I call all my dear friends and we just have ultimate fun. When it struck's 12, we just dance and shout and I 'am awaiting this year's party. It will go on till 2 and then we have a sleepover."

Of course the worst part, she adds " is that , next day I end up cleaning my house!"

There are a lot of apartments which celebrate the New Year, where all the residents have a get together dinner party and play games. Some also bring music bands and dancers from various dance schools and ask them to perform.

On the other hand, may teenagers have terrace parties, where the youngsters alone get together and have a celebration on their own. Says Shwetha Kumar, "We pre-plan everything of what to do and the games to be conducted. Each one of us prepares a dish and we have dinner together along with some chatting and playing. At 12, we give a silent prayer and cut the cake. We then play games and not to forget, click photographs and bid a happy goodbye to the previous year. Right from the planning, budgeting and coordinating, our gang of 10 members do it and our parents are a strict no-no here."

New year parties have come a long way in making it's influence at the city and the trend these years seems to be on a higher side and this 2009 - Chennai for sure is all set for the PARTY!!!

Anitha.R