People in many parts of the World are celebrating the Lunar New Year. The event, which marks the rise of the first moon in the lunisolar calendar, is also of importance to the Asian diaspora who, though living overseas still observes the ancestral traditions.
Major events are taking place mainly in China, Japan, the Korean peninsula and various south-east Asian countries, with people wearing traditional outfits, visiting temples and gathering with families.
This year’s celebrations have been hampered by the continuous fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which is still causing local authorities to maintain COVID-induced measures.
© AFP 2023 / Lillian SuwanrumphaA dancer performs in Chinatown in Bangkok on 11 February 2021, ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on 12 February.
A dancer performs in Chinatown in Bangkok on 11 February 2021, ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on 12 February.
© AFP 2023 / Sonny TumbelakaTwo lion dancers prepare to pray at a Chinese temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Kuta, on Indonesia's resort of Bali on 12 February 2021.
Two lion dancers prepare to pray at a Chinese temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Kuta, on Indonesia's resort of Bali on 12 February 2021.
© AFP 2023 / Lillian SuwanrumphaPeople wear traditional Chinese outfits as they walk in Chinatown in Bangkok on 11 February 2021 ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on 12 February.
People wear traditional Chinese outfits as they walk in Chinatown in Bangkok on 11 February 2021 ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on 12 February.
© AFP 2023 / Noel CelisA family take a picture in front of a bull sculpture at a mall in Beijing on 11 February 2021, ahead the biggest holiday of the year, the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on February 12.
A family take a picture in front of a bull sculpture at a mall in Beijing on 11 February 2021, ahead the biggest holiday of the year, the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on February 12.
© REUTERS / Ann WangPeople watch Lunar New Year fireworks while wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as they wait to enter a temple in Taipei, Taiwan, 12 February 2021.
People watch Lunar New Year fireworks while wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as they wait to enter a temple in Taipei, Taiwan, 12 February 2021.
© REUTERS / Eloisa LopezPeople wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus disease, pray inside a temple in Chinatown during Lunar New Year in Manila, Philippines, 12 February 2021.
People wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus disease, pray inside a temple in Chinatown during Lunar New Year in Manila, Philippines, 12 February 2021.
© REUTERS / Thanh HueA worker packs dried incense sticks in a courtyard ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations in Quang Phu Cau village outside Hanoi, Vietnam, 3 February 2021.
A worker packs dried incense sticks in a courtyard ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations in Quang Phu Cau village outside Hanoi, Vietnam, 3 February 2021.
© AFP 2023 / Tang Chhin SothyWomen hold incense sticks while on a car after visiting a temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Ta Khmao, Kandal province in Cambodia on 12 February 2021.
Women hold incense sticks while on a car after visiting a temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Ta Khmao, Kandal province in Cambodia on 12 February 2021.
© AFP 2023 / Philip FongA woman wearing a traditional outfit burns incense and prays at Ma Zhu Miao temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Ox in Yokohama's Chinatown area in Japan on 12 February 2021.
A woman wearing a traditional outfit burns incense and prays at Ma Zhu Miao temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Ox in Yokohama's Chinatown area in Japan on 12 February 2021.
© Sputnik / Miguel Сandеla / Go to the mediabankA man sits in the middle of his merchant stall at the Spring Festival Flower Fair in Hong Kong.
A man sits in the middle of his merchant stall at the Spring Festival Flower Fair in Hong Kong.
© Sputnik / Miguel Сandеla / Go to the mediabankHundreds of red lanterns light up Li Tong Avenue ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year.
Hundreds of red lanterns light up Li Tong Avenue ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year.
© AFP 2023 / Manan VatsyayanaA Vietnamese woman carries her child next to a cut-out illustration of a monk advising visitors to wear face masksat the Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi on 12 February 2021 on the first day of Lunar New Year or Tet celebrations.
A Vietnamese woman carries her child next to a cut-out illustration of a monk advising visitors to wear face masksat the Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi on 12 February 2021 on the first day of Lunar New Year or Tet celebrations.
© AFP 2023 / Hector RetamalPeople look at a giant ox lantern in a park in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on 11 February 2021, ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on 12 February.
People look at a giant ox lantern in a park in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on 11 February 2021, ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on 12 February.
© AFP 2023 / Tang Chhin Sothy Devotees offer incense sticks at a temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Ta Khmao, Kandal province on 12 February 2021.
Devotees offer incense sticks at a temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Ta Khmao, Kandal province on 12 February 2021.
© REUTERS / FB Anggoro / Antara FotoA girl wearing a protective mask and face shield, holds incense sticks while praying with her mother at the Surya Dharma temple during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Pekanbaru, Riau province, Indonesia, 12 February 2021 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.
A girl wearing a protective mask and face shield, holds incense sticks while praying with her mother at the Surya Dharma temple during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Pekanbaru, Riau province, Indonesia, 12 February 2021 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.
© REUTERS / Thanh HueA worker handles dried incense sticks in a courtyard ahead of Lunar New Year in Quang Phu Cau village outside Hanoi, Vietnam, 3 February 2021.
A worker handles dried incense sticks in a courtyard ahead of Lunar New Year in Quang Phu Cau village outside Hanoi, Vietnam, 3 February 2021.
© REUTERS / Willy KurniawanBanknotes are seen on Tiger sculptures at Dharma Bhakti temple during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Jakarta, Indonesia, 12 February 2021.
Banknotes are seen on Tiger sculptures at Dharma Bhakti temple during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Jakarta, Indonesia, 12 February 2021.