In many countries the New Year holiday lasts only one day. But this is not the case with the people of China. The chinese celebrate their new year for 15 days. As China's heaviest bell rung from its 500-year old tower, Lunar New Year festivities commenced throughout the country. During their biggest holiday the Chinese people gather at temples to pray and make offerings in hope of good lu k in the coming Year of the Tiger.
Families eat meals that include traditional New Year dish of stuffed dumplings known as jiao-zi.
The colorful celebrations take place at streets where thousands of people line the route to see the annual parade which features a traditional chinese dragon dance. The dragon is a symbol of the origin of the chinese people and a symbol of good luck. But not only in China are lunar new year festivites celebrated. A group of students from the Chinese Department of the the Institute of Oriental Languages in Tashkent invited Chinese diplomats and businessmen to demonstrate their interest in Chinese culture. They performed traditional Chinese songs and dances as well as recited some famous poems.