DHAKA: Countries across Asia are beginning Lunar New Year celebrations to welcome in the year of the sheep.

In China, hundreds of millions of people are travelling home in what is considered the world’s biggest annual human migration.

State media says about three billion passenger trips will be made by plane, train and car over the 40-day period, reports the BBC.

It is a public holiday in many places with ethnic Chinese populations such as Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.

The festival is known as Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in South Korea, and is traditionally a time to be with family.

In a speech at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, Chinese president Xi Jinping extended Lunar New Year greetings to Chinese people everywhere.

This year the government is urging people not to set off firecrackers, amid rocketing pollution levels in cities.

Celebrations in Shanghai, and in many other Chinese cities, have been toned down this year after a stampede at New Year event in January left 36 people dead.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong leader CY Leung also gave his holiday message, describing the last year as full of conflicts and urging citizens to ‘be like sheep’.

Late last year, a pro-democracy movement brought crowds onto the streets, blockading parts of the city and deeply dividing public opinion.

Various groups came together to demand the right to pick their own leader, without Beijing selecting which candidates can stand for elections.

‘Sheep are widely seen to be mild and gentle animals living peacefully in groups,’ Leung said.

BDST: 1825 HRS, FEB 18, 2015