Year of the Snake under way amid Lunar New Year festivities

Lion dances were performed at the Dongyue Temple on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing. Picture: AP

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers have marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and further afield – including in Moscow.

The holiday – known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea – is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world.