A dip in ice-cold water to welcome 2008

SHILLONG: People, particularly the youngsters here, will celebrate the New Year's Eve by swimming in ice-cold stream water and chilling out in open-air stadium.
    
The hill city would go all-out for gatherings and midnight swiming organised by Forever Young Club in the waters of a stream at Shillong Peak, where temperatures have neared zero degrees Celsius in the past few days.
   
"Swimming is meant to welcome the New Year with a prayer to God for strength and wisdom  in the face of challenges in life," said Michael Syiem, president of the Forever Young Club.
   
"Alcohol is not permitted to the participants before the event, else the spirit of the challenge be lost," he said.
    
Not far from the place, couples can go "mad under the moon" at the 'Loonatix 2008' at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Polo Grounds, promises Purplerain Entertainment, organizer of the open-air party on the New Year's Eve.
    
Posters put up by the organisers scream, "Set the night ablaze at this slugfest".
   
Fire dancing, fireworks, steaming food, bonfire, gifts and DJs from Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi would be the highlights of the gala event.
   
State tourism department along with Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) will also hold similar events in the centre of the town at Police Bazar.
   
Popular bands bands including Akhia, Colours, Nova Sanctum, Difference United and Snow White would enthrall the gathering.