The year 2024 has just begun, and the capital city is witnessing a fresh start after the winter break. Although the sun is nowhere to be seen and the temperatures are hitting rock bottom, events in the Delhi promise to thaw the icy atmosphere. As a blanket of smog covers the cityscape, communities are coming together to embrace the spirit of the new year. Festivals, cultural gatherings, heritage walks, and stand-up shows are taking centre stage, bringing warmth and vitality into the cold urban landscape. As residents and visitors explore the seasonal offerings, local markets are bustling with people. The air is filled with anticipation for the coming months. Against a chilly but invigorating ambience, explore the events to visit and things to do over the first weekend of the year with your loved ones.
Delhi Delights: What’s Happening In The City This Weekend
From shadow puppet show to evenings dedicated to magic, find out what’s cooking in your city this weekend for a great time with your loved ones
Enjoy An Evening Of Magic Tricks
Pop in for an evening of illusion at Magic Show by Magician O P Sharma Jr., with O.P. Sharma Jr., also known as Jadugar O.P. Sharma Jr., a famous magician from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Sharma is an international entertainer, popular magician and renowned master of illusion and has been doing it for a long time—over 48 years. He's done more than 40,000 shows all over India and other countries. People love watching his magic because it feels like he can make anything happen. He started learning magic when he was just 5 years old and hasn't stopped since. Now, he's known as one of the fastest magicians in the whole world.
Dates: January 7, 9 pm
Venue: Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Auditorium, Ghaziabad
Address: 24, Pocket C, Nehru Nagar II, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201001
You can book your tickets for the show online.
Walk Alongside Anas Khan On A Heritage Trail
Heritage and history lovers in Delhi must register themselves for a capitvating morning heritage trail through Old Delhi. The walk will be anchored by Anas Khan, popular as Unzip Delhi, tracing the walls of Old Delhi which give it the name of "Walled City." The walk is entitled "Old Delhi - Walking alongside the Walls of Shahjahanbad" and will uncover the stories of illustrious mansions and many towering minarets built by the forgotten Mughal women. Anas Khan is an anthropologist and a heritage walker who blends his rigorous ethnographic and historical research with the oral narratives inherited from his upbringing in Delhi. Through his celebrated Instagram posts and engaging heritage walks, he presents a rich tapestry of historical tidbits and anecdotes, making him one of the most captivating heritage walkers in the city.
Dates: January 7, 10 am to 1 pm
Venue: Old Delhi
Address: Delhi Gate Metro Station Gate No. 3
You can secure your tickets online on his booking website.
Tune In To An Adult Entertainer Stand-up
Head to EDM for the Hahaha Nights—an evening filled with hilarious jokes and stories that are sure to have you laughing uproariously. The night of entertainment will be hosted by the witty Gourav Mahna, featuring comedic talents such as Himanshu Bhardwaj, Mayoank Dhingra, Pravit Arora, Utkarsh Singh, and Vikash Dugar. Don't miss the chance to start the new year with laughter. You must remember to bring a valid ID. Seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis, so you must arrive at least 30 minutes early. The organisers reserve the right to eject anyone disturbing the performance, and the artist line-up may be subject to change.
Dates: January 6, 6 pm
Venue: East Delhi Mall, Ghaziabad
Address: 1, Kaushambi Rd, Anand Vihar, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201001
You can book your tickets online on their booking website.
Witness A Musical Evening With Ditty
Ditty will be releasing her upcoming EP, "Skin," early next year, accompanied by a series of intimate concerts across ten cities in India before heading back to Berlin. Originally from Delhi, Ditty is known for her environmentally-conscious approach. During this tour, she aims to initiate crucial discussions on climate change, sacred ecology, communal regeneration, and transformation by collaborating with local environmentalists and artists. Ditty has previously organised India's first carbon-neutral tour in 2020 and is committed to keeping this tour low in emissions and pollution, striving to become carbon-neutral. Her music, described as bold and beautiful ruminations on our shared future, reflects her deep connection with nature and her experiences growing up in India. With a diverse musical journey, including her debut album "Poetry Ceylon" and a collaboration with the international collective Faraway Friends, Ditty remains a significant voice in the emerging Indian indie scene. She is set to release a series of EPs in the coming months titled "Skin" and "Kaali."
Dates: January 7, 12 pm
Venue: Baba Kharak Singh Road, Delhi
Address: Baba Kharak Singh RdNew Delhi, Delhi 110001
You can book your tickets on their booking website online.
Participate And Enjoy Shopping At A Lohri Carnival
Celebrate the joy of Lohri at the festive Bazaar with cultural dances, games for kids, and soulful music. You can explore the flea market filled with traditional treasures for a fun-filled day steeped in tradition and laughter. The event will also have a Festive Musical Weekend on January 12, featuring an incredible live performance by Avi Rajput. Your ticket will include ten free minutes on trampolines at Masti Zone, a thrilling 7D movie experience, and for early birds, a free pass to the blockbuster "Salar" movie as a special reward for early buyers.
Dates: January 5, 12 pm to January 14, 8 pm
Venue: East Delhi Mall, Ghaziabad
Address: 1, Kaushambi Rd, Anand Vihar, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201001
You can book your tickets online on their booking website.
Partake In A Puppetry Performance
The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art is presenting a fascinating shadow puppetry performance called "Zig Zags to Earth," created by artists V Aarti, Ankit Ravani, and Adheep Das. The story follows Zig, who is on a mission to save his planet, and his journey brings him to Earth where he discovers the magic of the water cycle. Zig sets out on a zigzagging adventure, curious about how Earth treats this life-saving liquid. V Aarti is a theatre artist who focuses on creating imaginative worlds for children and is part of India's first company of adults performing for children, Khilona. Ankit Ravani is a visual artist and educator who explores absurdity and self-formation in his work and has received the Inlaks Fine Art Award (2022). Adheep Das, a Film and Television Institute graduate of India, merges science and arts in his projects with his animated film 'Moonless' competing at international film festivals. Residents of Delhi must turn in at the museum for this enchanting journey.
Dates: January 6, 6 pm
Venue: Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Delhi
Address: No. 145, DLF South Court Mall Saket, Saket District Centre, Saket, New Delhi, Delhi 110017
Entry to the show is free of cost. Registration can be done online.