It's already a Happy New Year somewhere! Midnight strikes across the globe as millions hail start of 2014 with dazzling celebrations

Sportsmen in Allahabad, India light candles to celebrate New Year's Eve at Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium

The biggest party in the world is underway with bright fireworks bursting into skies across the globe as midnight strikes and nations hail the start of 2014. Exploding fireworks sprayed from Sydney's iconic opera house and harbor bridge as the world began ushering in a new year. More than one million people crammed the Sydney Harbor foreshore on a warm summer night to watch Sydney's renowned annual pyrotechnics show, which appeared to live up to its billing as the city's most extravagant. And for the first time in more than a decade fireworks launched from four sails of the Sydney Opera House.

In Hong Kong the harbour provided the focal point much like Sydney harbour three hours earlier. A bright spray of fireworks erupted from the water at the same time as rockets burst above the city creating a stunning spectacle of red and white light. Closer to the edge of the International Dateline, New Zealand bid farewell to 2013 two hours before Sydney with fireworks erupting from Auckland's Sky Tower as cheering revelers danced in the streets of the South Pacific island nation's largest city.

Gearing up for the New Year, students in China use light pens to welcome 2014

Young Chinese students at a middle school in Hanshan county, Anhui province, line up to form 'Happy 2014' to celebrate the New Year

As midnight struck in New Zealand a fireworks display erupted over the city as thousands danced in the streets below

Tokyo tower in Japan as 12am strikes and the crowds celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse