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Millions Across Asia Greet The Year Of The Dog
Beijing, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2006 With fireworks, fairs, feasting and family reunions, millions of Asians greeted the start Sunday of the Year of the Dog. Celebrations in the Chinese capital Beijing went with a bang with the return - after a 12-year ban - of fireworks and firecrackers. Some 600,000 boxes were sold under strict controls by the city government. After visits to temples, traditional fairs and new year meals, Beijing residents marked the holiday with a deafening noise barrage to frighten evil spirits away. As fireworks lit up the night sky in the city of 15 million, almost 30,000 police were deployed to forestall accidents and hospitals went on alert. "It's your right to let off fireworks but it's your duty to do it in a civilised way," proclaimed a banner in the Houhai district behind the Forbidden City. The message appeared to have been taken to heart. News media Sunday had no initial reports of serious injuries. Despite bird flu outbreaks which have killed seven people since the start of last year, Chinese were sticking to traditional chicken dinners. "We haven't eaten chicken for months because of bird flu, but during the holiday, we must have it on our table," said Beijing resident Zhang Yi. The dog, which succeeds the rooster in the lunar calendar, is considered to be loyal, trustworthy and honest but also pessimistic and cynical. Some astrologers say this year will be a case of the calm before the storm. "At the start it will appear peaceful but a lot of problems will crop up in the middle of the year," said Lee Sing-tong. However, the year is also propitious for marriage since, unusually and in an indication of prosperity, it will continue into a 13th month and cover two "lichun" (the start of spring) on February 4 this year and next. President Hu Jintao spent New Year's Eve in the home of farmer Kang Haifa in the Yan'an district of the northeastern province of Shaanxi. The government wants rural residents to enjoy a greater share of China's dramatic economic growth. Xinhua new agency said Hu joined Kang's family in folk dancing, making sticky rice cakes or "niangao" and toasting each other in rice wine. He told them the goal of building "a new socialist countryside" was to ensure farmers become rich more quickly, so that festival food such as niangao would become their daily diet, Xinhua reported. Taiwanese paid early visits to temples to seek good fortune. Tens of thousands crowded stores for "fortune bags" priced at 1,000 Taiwan dollars (31 US) and offering a chance to win a car, a diamond or other prizes. President Chen Shui-bian returned to his home town Tainan to give traditional red envelopes containing lucky money to former neighbours. In Vietnam where the festival is celebrated as Tet, hundreds of thousands watched a spectacular fireworks display at central Hanoi's Hoan Kiem lake. Celebrations were marred by traffic accidents which claimed 48 lives on a single day as people rushed home for reunions. Streets were almost empty and most shops were closed in normally bustling Singapore and Hong Kong as families gathered for new year reunions. "The Year of the Dog looks promising... I expect our economy to continue prospering," said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Thousands of Hong Kong residents visited Wong Tai Sin Temple in the first minute of the new year, with many praying the economic upturn continues. A new year fair in Victoria Park that closed early Sunday attracted about 46,000 visitors. Stallholders reported brisk business as did restaurants hosting family banquets Saturday evening. Rain and flooding in parts of Indonesia failed to dampen festive spirits, with Chinese temples on Sunday morning packed with worshippers from the minority community. In the city of Semarang in Central Java, prayers at the Alokiteshwara temple went on despite ankle-deep water. Chinese communities worldwide joined in the festival. London was set to hold the largest celebrations outside Asia on Sunday, with hundreds of performers taking part in the annual parade.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links - China News from SinoDaily.com
Clumsy Museum Visitor Breaks Three Qing Vases
London, Jan 30 (AFP) Jan 30, 2006A clumsy visitor to a Cambridge museum has destroyed a set of priceless 300-year-old Chinese vases after tripping up on his shoelace, the Daily Telegraph reported Monday. |
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