Revelers gather in Times Square to celebrate New Year

NEW YORK: An estimated one million revelers in the historic Times Square danced, kissed and blew whistles and horns as the traditional ball began its 77-foot decent for the 100th time ushering in the new year.
    
They counted the last sixty seconds of 2007 as the ball hit the ground and lighted "2008", throwing a ton of confetti in light cold breeze.

For the first time, it contained hundreds of messages written by revelers which included New Year resolutions.
    
For the centenary year, a new 1,415-pound "green" ball was designed and covered with 672 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 9,576 Philip Luxeon light emitting diodes which made it energy efficient and generated kaleidoscope of colours.
    
The partying continued all through the night as the revelers were entertained by popular singers.
    
The tradition of dropping the ball began 100 years ago when a 700-pound ball made the decent. It was made of wood and iron and was lit by 100 25-watt incandescent bulbs.

It was established by the then New York Times owner Adolph Ochs and the ball was lowered from the flagpole of the paper.
    
Advertisers too took full advantage of the captive audience and hired time on the digital screens in Time Square.
    
The screens were monopolised by companies making products for weight loss in the backdrop of expectation that those who gained weight during the just ended holiday season would at least make an effort to reduce weight and slim down in the New Year.