Thousands gathered at Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin Temple on Monday night for the annual Lunar New Year's first incense ritual. The temple opened at 9pm and welcomed worshippers eager to place the first incense sticks at 11pm, marking the start of the Year of the Horse. The temple will stay open overnight and throughout the next day, closing at 9pm Tuesday. Actress Lana Wong Ha-wai, 95, dressed as Guanyin, prayed for "double protection" after a long legal battle. Wong said she plans to help build a nursing home with recovered funds and wished for "good health, world peace and the security of a stable home." The Great Immortal Wong, or Wong Tai Sin, is famed for healing powers. Those who offer the first incense sticks at the main altar are believed to receive great blessings. Strict crowd control was in place, allowing only nine incense sticks per person and closing fortune-telling stalls to keep order. Many worshippers came in costumes, some wearing Horse-themed headpieces. Devotees began arriving early, with some waiting hours to offer their prayers at midnight. Paul Cheung, 42, said he started attending after Covid-19 and feels his luck has improved. He is hoping for better job opportunities this year. Student Alice Yeung came with her grandmother, who has mobility challenges, to pray for health. Sik Sik Yuen, the charity running the temple, expects 20,000 to 40,000 visitors on Monday night and a total of 1 million during the holiday period.