Karigari is quietly building one of India’s most interesting dining stories not as a celebrity chef-led brand, but as a cultural platform designed for scale, structure and long-term growth. Co-founded by entrepreneur Yogesh Sharma and culinary entrepreneur Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, the company sits at the intersection of culture, capital and operational discipline.

Unlike traditional chef-driven concepts, Karigari is positioned as a replicable Karigar-based platform, converting India’s hyper-local food intelligence into a format that can travel across cities, formats and markets. In just three years, the brand has expanded to 11 operational formats across North and South India, with seating capacities ranging from 90 to 190 covers and footprint sizes that balance premium dining with operational efficiency. Unit economics remain stable, supporting expansion into both metro and high-growth Tier-2 markets.

What sets Karigari apart is how culture is operationalised as a business strategy rather than a nostalgia play. Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi’s role extends far beyond the kitchen. Drawing from decades of documenting India’s regional food micro-economies, he translates lived culinary knowledge into IP-driven menu storytelling designed for consistency and scale. From Bela Chameli Sharbat inspired by Bikaner’s perfumed drink traditions, to Shogum Shuda, a modern functional beverage built on coconut water and indigenous flavours, and Chicken Sajji, adapted from frontier cooking into a high-volume bestseller these dishes are built with memory equity, repeatability and commercial logic.

On the business side, Yogesh Sharma leads brand architecture, location strategy, format diversification and capital discipline. His focus is on aligning cultural storytelling with investor-ready systems, positioning Karigari for its next phase of institutional growth. The company is currently mapping an expansion roadmap of 25 outlets over the next three years, targeting Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and select Tier-2 cities, with a formal market-facing announcement planned in 2026.

Karigari’s journey offers a compelling lens into how India’s casual dining sector is evolving from fragmented, personality-led concepts to organised, scalable enterprises that can attract long-term capital without diluting cultural authenticity. It also highlights how founder-led brands are preparing for visibility, governance and growth while continuing to celebrate karigars at every level of the ecosystem.

Countries across the South Pacific were the first to welcome 2026, with New Zealand leading global celebrations as Auckland marked the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display. The show was launched from the iconic Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the country, even as rainy weather swept across parts of the city.

Auckland, home to nearly 1.7 million people, entered the New Year well ahead of major global cities, celebrating almost 18 hours before festivities begin in New York’s Times Square. Despite the wet conditions, the celebrations reflected the city’s vibrant spirit and enthusiasm to usher in the new year.

The island of Kiritimati, part of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, became the very first place in the world to welcome 2026. Located in the Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii and north-east of Australia, Kiribati spans a vast region of coral atolls and is known for its unique geographical position on the global time map.

Several Asian nations, including Japan and South Korea, followed with New Year celebrations later in the day, joined by Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. While many cities marked the occasion with festive events, Hong Kong opted for a subdued approach this year.

Instead of its usual large-scale fireworks display, Hong Kong organised a light show and limited musical performances as a mark of respect following a recent tragic apartment fire in the city. The decision reflected a more sensitive and thoughtful way of welcoming the New Year.

As 2026 unfolds across time zones, celebrations around the world continue to reflect a mix of joy, remembrance and hope, bringing people together in anticipation of a positive year ahead.

Tourist destinations across Himachal Pradesh are witnessing a strong surge in visitor numbers ahead of the New Year, with hotel occupancy levels rising to around 80 to 90 per cent in key hill stations. Popular destinations such as Shimla and Manali are seeing most hotels operating close to full capacity, bringing renewed optimism to the state’s tourism industry.

Despite dry weather conditions so far, tourism stakeholders remain upbeat, largely due to forecasts predicting snowfall around the New Year period. Industry players believe snowfall could further boost tourist inflow, especially in areas surrounding the main towns, where occupancy levels are also expected to rise.

“The room occupancy is about 80–90 percent in Manali which is further expected to rise by Wednesday evening and we are pinning hopes that the MeT office forecast of snowfall on New Year eve keeps date, it would be a boon for tourism,” President, Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Associations, Gajender Thakur said. He added that Manali remains one of the most accessible hill destinations, offering a wide range of tourist attractions and activities.

Similar trends are being reported in Shimla, where hotels are already seeing high occupancy. Prince Kukreja, Vice President of Shimla Hotels and Restaurants, said the occupancy levels are currently around 80 per cent and expected to increase further with snowfall forecasts. He noted that pleasant weather conditions and carnivals organised by authorities are drawing tourists, while snowfall would be a welcome gift for both visitors and locals.

To mark the New Year celebrations, several hotels across the state capital and other tourist hubs have planned gala nights, adding to the festive atmosphere and enhancing the overall visitor experience.

The local Meteorological Department has forecast rain and snowfall across various parts of the state, along with warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and cold wave conditions in several districts. Tourism stakeholders believe favourable weather conditions could help offset the impact of an unusually dry December, which has recorded a significant rainfall deficit across most districts in Himachal Pradesh.