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

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

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

Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel, Middle East

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

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

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

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

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 and couple joining hands in wedding

Priest holding chalice in bowl

Priest baptizing baby girl with water

Priest blessing baby boy in church

Father holding baby son in church

Priest in church

Priest holding baby girl in church

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

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

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.

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.

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

Wishing plates 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lotus Temple of the Bahai faith, New Delhi, India.

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

People carry a body, to burn, going to Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Lotus Temple of the Bahai faith, New Delhi, India.

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

Nuns praying before eating their meals, Sakyadhita Thilashin Nunnery School, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Women sweeping tiled floor at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Nuns queuing for a meal, Sakyadhita Thilashin Nunnery School, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Nuns eating their meals, Sakyadhita Thilashin Nunnery School, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Men washing their feet in preparation for prayers, at Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Nuns praying before eating, Sakyadhita Thilashin Nunnery School, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Bishop blessing the palms,mass,Palm Sunday.Interior of Basilica Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Nuns queuing for a meal, Sakyadhita Thilashin Nunnery School, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

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

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

Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary,Kyoto, Japan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women sweeping tiled floor at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

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

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

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

Women praying, Courtyard, Zaouia (tomb) of Moulay Idriss II, medina, Fez. Morocco

Pilgrims praying, golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

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

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

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

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

Religious statue and donation at Popa Taung Kalat Temple, Mount Popa, near Bagan, Myanmar, (Burma)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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