The year of the dog: Worldwide celebration of the Chinese New Year comes to an end

The New Year festival is traditionally associated with honouring of the dieties and the ancestors. It is also an occasion for the families to gather for an annual reunion. | AP

The Chinese clean their house as a belief to drive away ill-fortune and welcome good luck with the new year. People decorate their house with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with themes of good fortune, happiness, wealth and longevity. In pic: Dragon dancers participate in the Chinatown's 119th annual Golden Dragon Parade to celebrate the Year of the Dog in Los Angeles. | AP

The festival is celebrated by Chinese diaspora all over the world. Other than China, countries (mostly Asian countries) that follow the Chinese calendar also celebrate the Lunar New Year. | AP

A man dressed up as the Chinese 'God of Fortune' hands out gifts to temple visitors at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | AP

People look at an oversized dog lantern at the Wangfujing shopping street in Beijing. This year is the year of the dog. | AP

A Taoist priest prays to the God of Fortune at a temple on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year in Shanghai, China. Tuesday is the traditional day to offer prayers to the God of Fortune during the festival. | AP

A Lion Dance is performed outside a Chinese temple during the 6th day of Chinese Lunar New Year in Penang, Malaysia. | AP

A man takes a photo of a woman at a display to celebrate the Lunar New Year at a shopping mall in Beijing. Wednesday, i.e. 21st February is the final day of a weeklong holiday as Chinese welcome the Year of the Dog with firecrackers, family reunions, and traditional food. | AP