MALAYSIA: An ethnic Chinese girl holds offerings on the first day of Lunar New Year celebrations Saturday at a temple in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Lim Huey Teng / Associated Press
BEIJING — People in China and throughout Asia are heading to temples and fairs to wish for an auspicious start to the Lunar New Year.
Thousands gathered at Beijing’s major temples on Saturday, the first day of the Year of the Rooster. Wearing heavy winter coats, they lit incense sticks and bowed as they prayed for good fortune and health.
Beijing’s sprawling temple fair opened at Ditan Park, where empty tree branches were festooned with red lanterns and traditional goods and foods were for sale.
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Ethnic Chinese and others around the world also marked the holiday with celebrations.
SOUTH KOREA: North Korean refugees and their family members bow to respect their ancestors Saturday in North Korea as they celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea. Photo: Ahn Young-joon / Associated PressMYANMAR: Local Chinese artists perform a dragon dance during cerebrations to mark Lunar New Year on Saturday in Yangon. Photo: Thein Zaw / Associated PressJAPAN: People offer prayers during celebrations of the Lunar New Year Saturday at Chinatown in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Photo: Koji Sasahara / Associated PressHONG KONG: Chicken feet snacks shop owner Leung Kin-kung chops off chicken feet Monday in Hong Kong. Photo: Vincent Yu / Associated PressMALAYSIA: An ethnic Chinese girl holds offerings on the first day of Lunar New Year celebrations Saturday at a temple in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Lim Huey Teng / Associated Press
