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Last Updated: Wednesday, 9 February 2005, 03:06 GMT
In pictures: Chinese New Year

New Year fire in Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, China

Millions of people across China have seen in the Year of the Rooster with festive bonfires and fireworks.

Fireworks over Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

China's booming cities laid on lavish firework displays for the occasion.

Local Chinese celebrate New Year in Calcutta, India

Revellers in Calcutta's Chinatown "offered food to the dragon" to welcome in the lunar New Year.

Taipei temple worshippers

Prayers for the Year of the Rooster - said to bring prosperous but potentially turbulent times - were offered up in temples in Taiwan.

Decorations in Fu County, Shaanxi Province, China.

Couplets and New Year paintings symbolising good luck and happiness have been posted around Chinese towns.

New Year celebrations in Singapore

The New Year is celebrated wherever there are Chinese people such as here in Singapore.

A group dragon dancers perform in front of Cambodia Royal Palace in the capital city Phnom Penh, 08 February 2005.

Cambodia's ethnic Chinese population celebrated with traditional lion dances.

Indonesian Chinese light joss-sticks at a Buddhist temple during the Lunar New Year eve in Jakarta 08 February 2005.

But in Indonesia, celebrations have been muted as the country recovers from the December tsunami.



SEE ALSO
Hong Kong welcomes Year of Rooster
08 Feb 05 |  Asia-Pacific

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