Until a few years ago, special prayers for the occasion of New Year will be conducted only in Christian places of worship.
However, this trend has changed since the last few years - Many Hindu Temples have also taken up performing special poojas, Abhishekhams, & prayers for the occasion of New Year.
The famous and popular Chennai Vadapalani Temple (of Lord Muruga) is one among them.
Here is some detail about other temples:
Mylapore Lord Kapaleeswarar temple:
The temple corridors will be open early morning by 4.30 AM. Special Abhiskhekham (Divine bathing) including Milk Abhishekham will be performed on the deity of the Lord kapaleeswarar. After this, the devotees will be offered darshan of the Lord. The temple corridors will be closed by 11.30 AM and will be opened again by 4.00 PM. The devotees can have Darshan of Lord Kapaleeswarar till 9.30 PM. Security arrangements are being made for the safe movement of devotees.
Saidapet Karaneeswarar temple:
The corridors will be open by early morning 4.30 AM. Devotees will be allowed to from a line and have a Darshan of the Lord. All arrangements are being made for the devotees to have a satisfactory and complete Darshan. Devotees will be allowed to have Darshan till 9.00 PM.
Mangadu Kamatchiamman temple:
The temple corridors will be open by the stroke of New Year - exactly at 12.00. Special Abhishekham and chanting of the Devaram hymns will be performed. The devotees are permitted to have Darshan right from 12.00 at New Year Break . Safety arrangements have been made for the devotees to move smoothly and have a good Darshan. The devotees can have Darshan till 10.30 PM on 1st January.
Nanganallur Anjaneyar temple:
Special arrangements have made in this temple for the occasion of New year. The temple corridors will be open by 4.00 AM. Special abhishekham (divine bathing) and special adornment will be performed on the deity of Lord Anjaneya. Devotees can have Darshan for a continuous period right from 4.00 AM till 10.00 PM.
Triplicane Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple:
Special Poojas on the sacred Tamil month of Margazhi will be performed from 3.00 AM till 6.00 PM. Devotees will be allowed to have Darshan of the Lord Parthasarathy from 6.00 AM. The temple corridors will be closed by 12.15 PM. Devotees can have Darshan from 4.00 PM till 9.30 PM.
Chennai Park Town Kandha Kottam Sri Muthukumaraswamy temple:
This temple is also known for avoiding the evil effects of the plaet Sevvai (Mars) Dhosham. The temple corridors will be open by 12.01 AM on the occasion of New Year break and special poojai, abhishekham, and aaradhanai will be performed. The devotees can have Darshan of the Lord from this time (12.01 AM after abhishekham & poojais till 1.00 AM on 1st January , The corridors will be closed and opened again at 4.00 AM. Special arrangements have been made for all the devotees to have Darshan during the entire daytime. Devotees can have Darshan till 10.00 PM in the night.
Special Pooja/prayer for the occasion of New year have been arranged in Vadapalani Vengeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur Marundheeswarar temple, Besant Nagar Ashtalakshmi temple, T Nagar Tirupathi Devasthana Temple, Thiruverkadu Mariamman Temple, Mannadi Kalikambal temple, and Mylapore Mundkakaknni Amman temple.