New year celebrations around the world

Allahabad, India: A Hindu holy man blows a conch shell on the banks the Ganges Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Auckland, New Zealand: Fireworks over the city welcome in the new year Photograph: David Rowland/Rex Features

Edinburgh, Scotland: A torchlight procession makes its way through the city centre for the first of four days of Hogmanay celebrations Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Edinburgh, Scotland: Men dressed as Vikings lead the torchlight procession along Princes Street Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Karad, India: A man has his head shaved with a design to celebrate the new year Photograph: AP

Melbourne, Australia: Revellers watch a firework display over the city Photograph: Joe Castro/EPA

Sydney, Australia: Fireworks light up the city's harbour area at the stroke of midnight Photograph: Don Arnold/Getty Images

Hong Kong, China: Revellers pose for pictures during the countdown to the start of 2011 Photograph: Ym Yik/EPA

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Revellers take part in a new year parade Photograph: AP

Taipei, Taiwan: A firework display explodes off Taiwan's tallest skyscraper Taipei101 Photograph: Wally Santana/AP

Singapore: Fireworks explode above the financial district Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

A Kyrgyz girl wearing a Christmas tree costume takes part a New Year parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek Photograph: Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP/Getty Images

Hong Kong: Revellers take part in New Year celebrations in Times Square Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

A South Korean diver dressed as a rabbit marks the upcoming year of the rabbit at the COEX Aquarium in Seoul Photograph: Park Ji-hwan/AFP/Getty Images

Athletes start the San Silvestre Popular race in downtown Madrid Photograph: Alberto Martin/EPA

Fireworks in Jakarta, Indonesia Photograph: Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images

A Taiwanese performer plays a drum during the New Year's Eve ceremony in Taipei Photograph: Chiang Ying-ying/AP

One of the thousands of participants walks through the streets of Hillbrow during the annual City of Johannesburg carnival Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

A man holds a child aloft as tens of thousands of people attend a new year countdown at Opera House Square, Hanoi, Vietnam Photograph: Na Son Nguyen/AP

People take part in the traditional San Silvestre Swim at Miracle beach in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain Photograph: Jaume Sellart/EPA

Shinto priests walk under a 'torii' in preparation for the new year at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA

Fireworks illuminate the sky near Malaysia's landmark Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur Photograph: Ahmad Yusni/EPA

Balinese dancers celebrate New Year in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia Photograph: Made Nagi/EPA

Peter Yabsely and girlfriend Lauren Goulben enjoy the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

U.S. Navy sailors Charlie Brand and Dennis Jones take part in celebrations in Times Square in New York Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters

Thousands gather to celebrate in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany Photograph: Gero Breloer/AP

People gather at Sofia's main square to celebrate the new year Photograph: Oleg Popov/Reuters

Fireworks explode over St. Basil Cathedral at Red Square during elebrations in Moscow Photograph: Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters

A trader wears a pair of 2011 glasses as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Photograph: Andrew Gombert/EPA

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the First Vespers and Te Deum prayers in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Photograph: Giampiero Sposito/Reuters

Thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames in central London to see in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images