Parasols in Pura Taman Pule Hindu temple on Koningan Day, Bali's second most important holiday when the holy souls of the ancestors are revered, Gianyar district, Bali, Indonesia

Men carry a huge wooden float of Christ over coloured sawdust carpet during the Easter procession in Antigua, Guatemala, Central America

Women at the Hindu pilgrimage to holy Pushkar Lake, Rajasthan State, India, Asia

Penitents lifting the Jesus Christ carriage during Semana Santa (Holy Week) procession, Salamanca, Castilla y Leon (Old Castile), Spain, Europe

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel, Middle East

Pilgrims queuing to bathe in the sacred Tampaksiring Spring, Pura Tirta Empul Temple, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Cao Dai ceremony inside Tay Ninh Holy See, Tay Ninh, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Hindu religious rites in the holy River Ganges (Ganga), Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Prayer papers stuffed into the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Worshippers at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Worshippers at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Worshippers at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Worshippers at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Pilgrims at the annual Hindu pilgrimage to holy Pushkar Lake, Pushkar, Rajasthan State, India, Asia

Share bread for Lent starting Ash Wednesday and ending Holy Thursday evening, France

Celebration of Purim festival, Rabbi reading the Meghilat (Book of Esther), Beth Loubavitch Synagogue, Montrouge, France

Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, Catholic Mass, Holy Communion, La Vang, Vietnam

Religious symbol of old Roman Missal with a wooden cross, France

Tomb of Job, Old Testament holy man (prophet) for Jews, Christians and Muslims together, Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman, Arabian Peninsula

Holy Mass for the swearing-in of the new Pontifical Swiss Guard in May 2023, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Pope Francis leads a Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June 2023, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Maundy Thursday celebration and foot washing ceremony, Saint Philippe du Roule Catholic Church, Paris, France

Maundy Thursday celebration and foot washing ceremony, Saint Philippe du Roule Catholic Church, Paris, France

Ash Wednesday celebration in Saint Philippe du Roule church, Paris, France

Close up of hands and crucifix, Catholic woman praying the Rosary in a church, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Catholic church, Rosary and crucifix, praying the rosary, Hail Mary full of grace, Vietnam

Thien Quang Buddhist Pagoda, Vesak celebration, Birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha, bathing infant Buddha to purify the heart, Tan Chau, Vietnam

Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, Catholic Mass, Holy Communion, La Vang, Vietnam

Pilgrims at Pushkar Lake at sunrise, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, South Asia, Asia

Pilgrims at Pushkar Lake at sunrise, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, South Asia, Asia

Women performing morning puja in the crowds gathered on the banks of the holy river Ganges at the Sonepur Cattle Fair, near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Hindu devotees taking part in the sacred ceremony of evening aati, adoration of the holy River Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Monseigneur Fouad Boutros Tawal, Coadjutor of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, swinging incense during Mass in Easter week, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Monseigneur Fouad Boutros Tawal, Coadjutor of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, raising a cup of wine during Mass in Easter week, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Hindu priests at sundown Aarti Ritual Ceremony of Light during Shivrati Festival in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Hindu priests at sundown Aarti Ritual Ceremony of Light during Shivrati Festival in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Hindu priests at sundown Aarti Ritual Ceremony of Light during Shivrati Festival in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Hindu priests at sundown Aarti Ritual Ceremony of Light during Shivrati Festival in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Hindu priests at sundown Aarti Ritual Ceremony of Light during Shivrati Festival in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Pilgrims queuing to bathe in the sacred Tampaksiring Spring, Pura Tirta Empul Temple, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Pilgrims queuing to bathe in the sacred Tampaksiring Spring, Pura Tirta Empul Temple, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Close-up of priests' hands taking the host during Mass in Easter week celebrated by Monseigneur Fouad Boutros Tawal, Coadjutor of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Sikh priest and holy book at Sikh wedding, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Nepal. Ritual, sonam/boom. Lobsangs cremation. Humla. traveler reached of journey! In freedom of infinite he is free from sorrow, fetters that bound thrown away, burning fever of life is no more,oesays dharmapada. Lobsang having spent whole life preparing moment of death, finds liberation on february 14, 1986. Extensive ritual follows cremation-traditionally a forty nine period, sonam lama rattles damaru. A small ritual drum to have origin in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bone dreid human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. Boom lama blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers. On makeshift altar rest chhome, votive lamps filled with butter, cups of water, grains, tormas, holy food made of barley meal decorated with medallions of butter offered to gods. Alone, boom lama continues prayers of deceased

Priest holding chalice in bowl

Priest blessing baby boy in church

Priest baptizing baby girl with water

Priest and couple joining hands in wedding

Priest in church

Father holding baby son in church

Priest holding baby girl in church

Torii gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Monk blessing a woman, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Invocations to the fortune at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

pilgrim bathing in the sacred pool Amrit Sarovar, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Barber shaving the head and beard of a pilgrim, Dashashwamedh ghat (main ghat), in Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

pilgrim bathing in the sacred pool Amrit Sarovar, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Interior of golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

pilgrims and sacred pool Amrit Sarovar, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Sadhu meditating, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Torii gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Cremation of bodies, in Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sadhu meditating, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Cremation of a body, in Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Offerings, in Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Every night, Nightly puja on Dashaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Baeber shaving the head and beard of a pilgrim, Dashashwamedh ghat (main ghat), in Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Men praying, in the Ghat of Yamuna river, Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

Torii gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Woman making offering, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Pilgrims in a boat sailing and praying, Ganges river, in background the ghats, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Wishing plates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Pilgrims making a ritual offering and praying, ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Torii gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Dashashwamedh ghat (main ghat), in Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

pilgrim and sacred pool Amrit Sarovar, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Every night, Nightly puja on Dashaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Torii gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

In first position the rooftop of Manikarnika ghat, general view of ghats rooftops, in Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

pilgrims and sacred pool Amrit Sarovar, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Monks praying, in Wat Chedi Luang temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Wishing plates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Pilgrims making a ritual offering and praying, ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Wishing plates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

Monk praying, in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Sadhus praying and begging, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A man praying, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims making a ritual offering, and praying, ghats in Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Torii gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan