Fort Kochi will see a historic New Year celebration as two giant Pappanji effigies of old men are set ablaze at separate venues. The Cochin Carnival Committee will burn its Pappanji at Parade Ground, while the charity club Gala De Fort Kochi has permission to do the same at Veli Ground. This marks the first time both events happen simultaneously after legal battles and past cancellations. Deputy Collector K. Manoj said, "We will impose the same safety protocols at both venues. It would be better to conduct the events at both venues, as the crowd will be split. The Parade Ground is expected to accommodate around 40,000 people and the Veli Ground about 25,000." Authorities hope that holding the festivities in two places will ease crowd control. Big screens may be installed outside to help manage the rush. The Pappanji effigies, each standing 50 feet tall, are being built with strict safety measures including barricades and CCTV surveillance. K.J. Sohan from the carnival committee noted, "Various events have been conducted as part of the carnival, and the construction of a 50-feet-tall Pappanji is progressing. A barricade will be erected around the effigy, and around 30 CCTV cameras will be installed at different points." The ground will be divided into four compartments for smooth crowd movement. Ancy V.J., president of Gala De Fort Kochi, said their Pappanji is inspired by a character from the Italian Carnival and has been completed with fencing and cameras underway. The District Collector G. Priyanka and Mayor V.K. Minimol have directed officials to ensure all safety measures are implemented quickly. Tens of thousands of tourists and locals are expected to attend these one-of-a-kind New Year events. This double celebration aims to bring in festive cheer with enhanced safety and crowd control in the picturesque beach town of Fort Kochi.