New Year Brings Dreams Filled with Hope and a Brighter Future: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has extended his New Year greetings to the people of the state. In his message, he said the New Year brings dreams filled with hope and the promise of a brighter and better future. He urged citizens to celebrate the occasion with care, while embracing values of mutual love and friendship. The Chief Minister wished everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

Following the Chief Minister’s greetings, the state is ready to welcome 2026 with grand celebrations across Kerala, with Fort Kochi emerging as one of the focal points of the festivities.Final arrangements completed for the much-awaited celebrations. Preparations at the main venues, the Parade Ground, the principal venue of the Cochin Carnival, and the Veli Ground, are in place. Burning the Pappanji, one of the most significant events of Kochi’s Christmas and New Year festivities, is expected to draw large crowds, as it does every year.

A giant Pappanji, standing over 50 feet tall, has been erected at the Fort Kochi Parade Ground under the leadership of the Cochin Carnival Committee. The structure has been designed by S. M. Anilkumar of Vyttila. Alongside the main Pappanji, hundreds of smaller ones have been installed along the roads by various clubs. The traditional burning of the Pappanji will take place at midnight to mark the arrival of the New Year.