Artists, known for their creative spirits, often host the most vibrant and meaningful events, seamlessly combining their artistry with festive cheer.
Around the world, people celebrate the occasion in unique and memorable ways, combining traditions, festivities and personal flair to make each New Year’s Eve unforgettable.
The arrival of the New Year is a time of celebration, reflection and connection. Around the world, people celebrate the occasion in unique and memorable ways, combining traditions, festivities and personal flair to make each New Year’s Eve unforgettable. Artists, known for their creative spirits, often host the most vibrant and meaningful events, seamlessly combining their artistry with festive cheer.
A breath of fresh air with artists
Kathak expert Shinjani Kulkarni shares a delightful glimpse of how artists celebrate the New Year. “Celebrating the New Year with artists is usually a breath of fresh air,” she says. In contrast to the usual austerity of Kathak performances, their performances take on a lively and relaxed style. Friends and family from the arts community often stray from classical traditions into modern entertainment, breaking out Michael Jackson’s dance moves and singing Kishore Kumar’s fast tunes instead of traditional Kathak lyrics.
What makes these events even more special is the spontaneous potluck spirit. Shinjini reveals a little-known fact: “Almost all the artists are also great cooks, so NYE parties become an impromptu potluck get-together.” This combination of creativity, friendship and culinary skills makes her New Year’s Eve gatherings truly unique and memorable. .
A blend of tradition and beauty
For Padma Shri Guru Shavana Narayan, New Year’s Eve is a beautiful blend of joyous celebrations and meaningful traditions. “New Year celebrations, apart from joyous celebrations, are always accompanied by prayers at home with traditional ‘Pooja Aarti’ and by attending church mass in the traditional Austrian style, thanking the Lord for his benevolent grace. Paying,” he explains
Her celebrations are often inspired by Vienna, where she spent many New Year’s Eves before 2020. “New Year’s was always a traditional Austrian gathering at home with friends and family in Vienna, sometimes with a ‘costume’ theme,” she added, adding a lavish dinner in the evening, and as midnight approached. was, the great bell of St. Stephen rang. The new year was ushered in by the sound of Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube, adding to the magical atmosphere, which had everyone grooving throughout the night.
On special occasions, Schwanna and her family ring in the New Year at the Viennese Ball at the Hofburg Palace, dining and dancing in a formal setting. The morning of January 1 was devoted to attending the prestigious New Year’s concert in the Vienna Philharmonic’s Golden Hall of the Musicians, an event broadcast to millions around the world.
Bringing Vienna to Delhi
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 brought significant changes to Shavana Narayan’s celebrations, moving him from Vienna to Delhi. Yet it has retained the essence of its traditions. “Since 2020, we always had our friends get together at our residence for an elaborate garden lunch that went till midnight with our closest family and friends,” she explains. Viennese traditions of midnight greetings, champagne toasts, and waltzing on the Blue Danube remain. The hub of events, now basks in the warmth of its Delhi home.
A Divine New Year: Bharatanatyam at Dwarkadhesh Temple
Every New Year’s celebration feels special, bringing fresh energy and a sense of new beginnings. “But December 31, 2021 holds a special place in my heart. This year, as we emerged from the challenges and negativity of the severe Covid wave, I had the honor of reciting Bharatanatyam with my students,” says Bharatanatyam artist Apeksha Niranjan. are
The event took place at the magnificent Dwarkadhesh temple in Raigad near Mumbai, a place of immense beauty and spiritual significance. Every year, the temple hosts cultural programs on the 31st, and in 2021, I had the privilege of being a part of it.
Niranjan added, “Surrounded by my students, family, friends and an enthusiastic, appreciative audience, we performed inside the Sri Krishna sanctum. It was more than just a recital – it was a deeply meaningful experience. While New Year’s Eve is often marked with parties, this presentation felt like a godsend to me in such an auspicious setting And to start the new year with positivity A great way to.”
This moment is a precious memory, a celebration of art, faith and renewal.
The magic of artistic events
Apeksha Niranjan, Shinjani Kulkarni and Shawana Narayan offer a compelling look at how artists imbue their celebrations with creativity, tradition and joy. Whether it’s potluck gatherings filled with laughter and dancing or elegant evenings steeped in Viennese culture, their New Year’s Eve celebrations remind us of the beauty of combining art, community and tradition. As the clock strikes midnight, these celebrations stand as a testament to the joy of welcoming the New Year with gratitude, creativity and love.