The year of the rat

Jakarta, Indonesia: A Muslim couple photograph themselves at a Buddhist temple where people pray to mark the new year Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP

Jakarta, Indonesia: A man holds sticks of incense as he prays at a temple Photograph: Weda/EPA

Jakarta, Indonesia: This lunar new year is only the fifth time Indonesia has marked the event with a national holiday. It was suppressed under ex-president Suharto, who ruled for more than three decades until 1998 Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP

Beijing, China: A young girl stands between rows of traditional lanterns Photograph: Teh Eng Koon/AFP

Beijing, China: Performers prepare for traditional dance at the Ditan Temple Fair. Beijingers keep alive the tradition of visiting temple fairs to buy and sell goods and enjoy folk shows during the seven-day Chinese holiday Photograph: China Photos/Getty

Beijing, China: Visitors light incense and pray at a temple Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP

Beijing, China: Thousands flock to temples across the city to pray for good luck Photograph: AP

Beijing, China: A shadow of a vendor appears on a huge Chinese character 'fu', which means good fortune Photograph: Teh Eng Koon/AFP

Beijing, China: People gather to watch fireworks Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP

Beijing, China: A woman poses for pictures on steps decorated with the Chinese character 'happiness', which contains the patten of rat Photograph: China Photos/Getty

Hong Kong: Three people dress in traditional Chinese clothing to celebrate the first day of the new year Photograph: Lo Sai Hung/AP

Newcastle, UK: The Shanghai Children's Palace Arts Troupe perform at the launch of East '08 arts festival Photograph: Christopher Thomond/freelance

Shanghai, China: Jade Buddha Temple is crowded with those paying their first visits of the lunar new year Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A woman says her prayers Photograph: Shamshahrin Shamsudin/EPA