Goa, Manali witness record crowds ahead of New Year, Jaishankar to attend Khaleda Zia's funeral

As India prepares for New Year 2026, this edition of 5 Live focusses on massive tourist turnout and traffic jams at major tourist destinations. Tourist destinations, from the snow-covered streets of Manali and Kashmir to the party hubs of Goa, are facing massive traffic jams and overcrowding due to an influx of holidaymakers and 'pollution refugees' ahead of the New Year 2026. In response, Bengaluru has beefed up security arrangements.

Meanwhile, a nationwide strike by delivery partners from Zomato, Swiggy, and Blinkit over working conditions is also planned, with viral sensation and rider Benjamin Ryan Gautam offering his perspective. The show also highlighted the emerging 'Bhajan Clubbing' trend among Gen Z, blending devotional music with modern beats. On the political and international front, it covered the BJP's campaign in West Bengal, seat-sharing dynamics in Mumbai, and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Dhaka for the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.