Hello Hindustan with Kapil Krishnaswamy (25) - Indian jetset celebrates in Goa

Idyllic Goa turned out to be the favoured spot for India’s jet set to ring in the New Year at the stroke of midnight Sunday. Bollywood stars, India , politicians, cricketers and other Indian celebrities as well as thousands of other tourists gathered in Goa to usher in 2006.

Amitabh Bachchan topped the list of Bollywood stars and personalities, who preferred to bid adieu to 2005 and say hello to 2006 from the sandy shores of this former Portuguese colony. Bachchan flew in to Goa accompanied by his industrialist friend Anil Ambani and politician-friend Amar Singh in a private chopper.

Also in Goa in time to see the sun set on 2005 was Shah Rukh Khan. He was the guest of beer baron Vijay Mallya. Salman Khan, his brother Arbaaz Khan and wife Malaika Arora also made it here as guests of Goa’s well known fashion designer Wendell Rodricks.

Besides Amar Singh, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar also landed in Goa to be part of this state’s much-hyped New Year revelry. Congress MP and Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi was another VIP to set foot in Goa and he is staying at the Taj in North Goa.

India’s cricket hero Yuvraj Singh sent fans into a tizzy when he made his appearance at a couple of nightspots in the Calangute-Baga belt. Sachin Tendulkar, whose family owns a bungalow on a sea-facing plateau in South Goa, was also rumoured to be in Goa, but made no public appearances and the news could not be confirmed.

Celebrities apart, residents and visitors, particularly those who drove down in their own vehicles from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka, headed to the coast where colourful fireworks displays and music kept them tapping their feet from the stroke of midnight on Sunday.