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Crowds thronged to one of Hong Kong’s main temples to burn incense and offer prayers for the Lunar New Year on Sunday night.

It’s a tradition to try to be the first to place incense at the start of the New Year. It also means queuing for hours and then a last minute rush to be among the many trying to burn incense outside the temple’s main hall. The main moment is at 11p.m. local time.

Crowds thronged to one of Hong Kong’s main temples to burn incense and offer prayers for the Lunar New Year on Sunday night.

Although it’s one hour before midnight, it’s the traditionally significant moment for the start of the New Year by Chinese time-keeping. Among the crowds waiting to burn incense and offer their prayers for the year to come, most expressed hopes, health, happiness, and a better economy for 2012 as New Year’s goals.