High on spirit and joy, Kerala embraces 2011

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The beaches buzzed with tourists, the hotels made a killing, the clubs went into musical marathons, the night sky was lit with perfect chromosomes, and the god’s own country embraced the New Year with verve.

The biggest crowds were witnessed at beaches in Kochi and Kovalam with a huge police force keeping a hawk eye to ensure nobody acted as spoilsport at the gigantic, statewide party. At the stroke of midnight, the fireworks went up, people hugged each other and broke into a jig.

“We had a great last (Friday) evening at the Kovalam beach. A good crowd had gathered there and we really enjoyed the party. It was an experience that we will treasure for a long time,” said a British couple.

Other major tourist spots at Thekkady, Munnar, Alappuzha and Kumarakom in the placid backwaters, made famous by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s sojourns, also witnessed a heavy rush of both domestic and foreign tourists. Those who arrived without advance booking found it hard to get an accommodation.

The Vembanad lake that flows through Alappuzha district was crowded with more than 350 houseboats occupied.

The Kerala government also chipped in to bring cheer to the more than one million state employees and pensioners. It submitted the Ninth State Pay Revision Commission report to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Friday evening, with recommendation to implement it.

The average hike in pay would be a minimum of 10 percent. The new scales would come into effect in the next financial year.

Even the state-owned Kerala State Beverages Corporation had much to celebrate as the long lines of people outside liquor vends ensured the firm’s sales would far outstrip the highest ever sales during the outgoing year.