India ushered in the 2013 new year on a gloomy mood, with continued protests and candlelight vigils as the country mourned the death of a young gang-rape victim who was laid to rest on Sunday.

Hotels and clubs either had a scaled-back celebration or cancelled it in a show of respect for the 23-year-old physiotherapy student who lost her two-week battle for life on Saturday amid multiple organ failure.

Most of the usual new celebration spots in the capital, such Connaught Place, only saw pockets of people while India Gate remained barricaded.

“We mark the advent of the New Year under a pall of gloom, as the nation mourns the tragic loss of a brave young girl, who became the victim of a heinous crime,” India’s President, Pranab Mukherjee, said in his New Year message.

He called for improving the security and welfare of women in the country.

“Let us use this moment to introspect and earnestly seek ways in which we can address the mindset which lies at the root of such incidents in order that we may achieve dignity and equality for women in our country,” he said.

Protestors, some on hunger strike, continued to gather at Jantar Mantar, another area within the city centre, and held candlelight vigils.

They called on the government to enact a stricter statutory law against rape and violence against women.

Similar situations were reported in other parts of the country.

Statistics has shown that out of 256,329 violent crimes recorded last year, 228,650 cases were related to violence against women.

Delhi records the highest number of rape cases. To date, 661 rape cases have been reported in Delhi, a 17 per cent increase from last year.