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New Delhi: The New Year (New Year ) 2026 has begun worldwide. In India too, the New Year is being celebrated with great fanfare. The enthusiasm for the New Year is visible among people of all ages, from young to old. In some countries, the New Year began even before India. These include Kiritimati Island in Kiribati, New Zealand, and Australia. Here too, there were spectacular fireworks and New Year celebrations.
Kiribati was the first to welcome 2026
The year 2026 began first on Kiritimati Island in Kiribati. This happened due to the different time zones around the world. Kiribati, also known as Kiribass, is an archipelago made up of several atolls. Here, the New Year began about eight and a half hours before India.
New Year celebrations in New Zealand
In New Zealand too, the New Year began before India. In Auckland, the capital of New Zealand, the New Year was celebrated with fireworks, and people were immersed in the New Year’s festivities. Although it is the rainy season there, the enthusiasm of the people is remarkable. Spectacular fireworks were displayed in the capital on this occasion.
New Year celebrations in Australia
In Sydney, Australia, the New Year 2026 has also begun, and people have welcomed it with open arms. There were spectacular fireworks around the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. The sky was illuminated with a multitude of colors. People are in a festive mood and are enjoying themselves thoroughly.
Welcome with the ringing of bells in Japan
In Japan too, the New Year has begun, and it is being welcomed with the ringing of bells. A unique aspect here is that the night of December 31st is called Omisoka, which is considered a sacred time. During this time, the large bells in the Buddhist temples here are rung 108 times.
New Year’s celebrations in South and North Korea
The New Year has also arrived in South and North Korea. It was welcomed with traditional customs. A unique aspect here is that people celebrate the New Year more with traditional practices than with fireworks, gathering together to wish for happiness, peace, and prosperity in the coming year.
