Lunar New Year festivals and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Dong Zen temple in the Malaysian city of Banting to witness the festival of lights and flowers as part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, which falls on 29 January and kicks off the ‘Year of the Snake’.

Several countries mark their new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar involving movement of the Sun and Moon.

Asian American communities around the U.S. and around the world are ringing in the Year of the Snake Wednesday, including in New York City. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival,

Food is also symbolic for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. In the North, Banh Chung, a sticky rice cake with banana leaves, is typically the most popular dish. In Central Vietnam, the savory Bánh Tét cake with rice and green beans is often used to celebrate the new year. Thịt Kho Tàu – a pork and egg dish – is very popular in South Vietnam.

Also known as Chinese New Year, it marks the beginning of the lunar new year based on the lunar calendar, typically falling between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.