A man wearing a face mask burns his first joss sticks as he offers prayer at Hok Lay Kiong temple in Bekasi, Indonesia, Sunday, Jan 22, 2023. The Lunar New Year which marks the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

At a Glance

Lunar New Year celebrations resumed in China after three years of COVID-19 restrictions.It was the biggest festive celebration in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.Photos show revelers enjoying the holiday throughout Asia.

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R​evelers across Asia headed out for the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebrations on Sunday. For China, it was the biggest festive celebration since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as China began lifting its "zero-COVID" restrictions in December.

P​hotos show large gatherings at temples throughout Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Seoul, as well as in the streets of Beijing.

T​he Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China, with each year being named after an animal or mystical creature of the Chinese zodiac. This year marks the Year of the Rabbit for most who celebrate, except for those in Vietnam, which has a few different zodiac figures, and . The holiday is a time for gatherings with family and friends, indulging in traditional food and drink and general merrymaking.

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T​he Associated Press reported that large crowds flock to Hong Kong's largest Taoist temple, Wong Tai Sin, on Lunar New Year's Eve, with incense sticks in hand, each trying to be the first or among the first to place their incense into the stands in front of the temple's main hall. Tradition holds t​hat those among the first to place their incense sticks have the best chance of having prayers answered.

on Saturday to place their first New Year's incense sticks in three years, due to COVID-restrictions, according to the South China Morning Post.

The Lunar New Year , according to National Geographic. Every year, billions of people travel to their ancestral homes to celebrate the holiday with family.

T​he celebrations will last for 16 days, during which people will watch fireworks, feast and exchange hongbao, or "red envelopes," which traditionally contain monetary gifts. Click through the slideshow above to see images of the fun across Asia

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