[Talk] Lunar New Year Celebrations Begin
By VOA News
26 January 2009
Lunar New Year celebration in Singapore, 26 Jan 2009
Lunar New Year celebrations have begun in China and some
neighboring countries to mark the start Monday of the Year of the
Ox.
Across China, hundreds of millions of people set off fireworks at
temple fairs and hurried to train and bus stations Sunday to get
home for family reunions.
Celebrations were marred late Sunday by an explosion near a police
station in Shanghai. Chinese state media say at least one person
was killed.
In Vietnam, at least 40 people died when a ferry overloaded with
shoppers for the New Year festival, known as Tet in Vietnam, sank
Sunday.
As Tibetans prepared to mark the Losar holiday, Tibet's exiled
spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, released an open letter to the
Chinese people saying he prays that China will create a harmonious
society in the coming year.
In Japan, 28-year-old Asashoryu Akinori won the New Year Grand
Sumo Tournament on Sunday while Mongolians in his home town of
Ulan Bator ushered in the new year, Tsagaan Sar.
Millions of South Koreans faced heavy traffic and freezing
temperatures in recent days to travel to their home towns to
celebrate the holiday.
Chinese immigrants around the world are holding celebrations to
mark the start of the Year of the Ox according to the Chinese
lunar calendar.
The ox, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes calm,
hard work and resolve.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-26-voa1.cfm
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and
Reuters.
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