Festivity fever grips Orissa; Chief Minister greets people on New Year 2011.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greets the people of the State on the New Year 2011. Patnaik in her message expressed hope that New Year would bring happiness, peace and prosperity in the lives of the people of the State and State would achieve new milestone in the New Year.

People kick-started 2011 by visiting temples. Puri witnessed lakhs of pilgrims from across the nation to start the year with the `darshan` of Sri Lord Jagannath.

In Orissa People of all walks of life are celebrating the New Year eve across the state in their respective styles. Hotels and other eateries, theatres, parks are thronged by New Year revelers in large numbers. In Bhubaneswar, the festivity also remained equally high. Tourist places like Puri, Konark, Gopalpur, Phulbani, Paradip and Chilika are also abuzz with visitors from different parts of the state. At several places, people were also seen preparing bonfires to welcome the Year 2011. These apart, family get-to-gather, school and college reunions also marked the pre-New Year celebration for many.