In pictures: Lunar New Year celebrations across the world

The Year of the Snake is under way in the Chinese zodiac.

A snake figure is displayed as people gather at the Ditan Temple in Beijing — The Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Snake (AP)

Prayers, lion dances and firecrackers have marked the Year of the Snake as Lunar New Year festivals got under way around the world.

The pop-pop-pop of firecrackers greeted the new year outside a temple in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.

Russians cheered and took smartphone photos of a colourful procession that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival in Moscow.

Colourful traditions were also in evidence in major cities such as Beijing and Hong Kong.

People celebrate the Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake, with a large procession near the Kremlin in Moscow, — Year of the Snake celebrations took place as far afield as Moscow (AP)

A woman writes wishes on a red cloth roll as people visit a temple fair held at the Dongyue Temple on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing — The Year of the Snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac (Andy Wong/AP)

China Lunar New Year — Lion dances, as seen here at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, are a common feature of the Spring Festival (AP)

An Ethnic Chinese Thai prays at Kwong Siew Shrine to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Bangkok, — Prayers took place at the Kwong Siew Shrine in Bangkok (AP)

Performers make a presentation to honor the Lunar New Year of the Snake before an NBA basketball game between the Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks — Performers honoured the Year of the Snake before an NBA basketball game between the Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks (AP)

People visit a temple fair — Many Chinese people who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world’s biggest annual movement of humanity (AP)

A lion dance — Traditionally, Chinese people have a family dinner at home on New Year’s Eve and visit ‘temple fairs’ on the Lunar New Year to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets from booths (AP)

New Year celebrations — Many Chinese people take advantage of the extended holiday to travel both in their own country and abroad (AP)

The Ditan Temple fair — The Ditan Temple Fair in Beijing is a popular attraction (AP)

A girl in a traditional costume — Traditional costumes are a common feature of the celebrations (AP)

A woman touches bells for luck as people gather at the Ditan Temple Fair — Will it be your lucky year?(AP)

Dragon paper lantern — The change marks the end of the Year of the Dragon (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)