ISLAMABAD: Celebrations of the Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year have commenced in many Asian countries and across the globe where their diasporas live.
The celebrations continue for roughly two weeks as per many indigenous traditions.
Each Chinese New Year revolves around a 12-year cycle and is associated with an animal in the Chinese zodiac, which is then paired with any one of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
This Chinese New Year marks the year of the wood snake.
Now, let’s have a look at who is celebrating the Lunar New Year and how.
How’s China celebrating?
Chinese people clean their houses in the days leading up to the new year to leave no room for bad luck from the previous year.
The cleaning welcomes good luck as decorations go up, including lanterns, paper cuttings and fresh paint – all in a bright red colour.
How do Koreans do?
The Korean New Year Seollal is celebrated with vibrant festivities.
The Korean New Year is celebrated over a period of three days, where celebrations are traditionally centred around family gatherings, Korean traditional food and rituals.
Vietnamese Tet celebrations
Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan – which means festival of the first day – is celebrated over three days.
Tet is one of the most important holidays in Vietnam, where offices and businesses close down for seven to nine days around the holiday.
The Vietnamese also prioritise spending time with family, paying respect to ancestors, praying to gods as well as resting before the start of a new year.
Tibet’s ‘Losar’
Losar, which means the New Year is celebrated in Tibet and parts of India with significant Tibetan Buddhist communities.
It is celebrated on the Tibetan lunisolar calendar. This year’s Losar is set to be marked on February 28.
Losar is often observed through traditional and religious rituals performed in monasteries and temples, cultural events and family bonding over shared meals and gifts.
Mongolia’s Tsagaan Sar
Known as Tsagaan Sar, Mongolia’s New Year will be celebrated on March 1, based on the Mongolian lunisolar calendar.
However, preparations begin in advance, which includes house cleaning and preparing food. Family, neighbours and friends visit each other, offerings are dedicated to deities and the actual New Year’s Day is started by walking in a specific direction based on zodiac prescriptions.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, the day is celebrated with fireworks, parades and other Lunar New Year rituals centred around removing bad luck and welcoming prosperity.
People gather in thousands to watch drummers interspersed around displays of traditional dragon and lion puppets.
