Women at the Lakshmi Puja Festival celebrating Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth and Beauty, India

Buddist celebration of Losar (Tibetian New Year) where Buddists throw flower in the air, Bodnath, Katmandu, Nepal, Asia

Bedouin wedding, Tataouine Oasis, Tunisia, North Africa

Traditional berber wedding, Douz Oasis, Tunisia, North Africa

Traditional berber wedding, Tataouine Oasis, Tunisia, North Africa

Traditional berber wedding, Tataouine Oasis, Tunisia, North Africa

Procession during the festival of Rameaux, Axoum, Ethiopia, Africa

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

Buddhist monks, Thailand, Asia

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

Confucian ceremony, Chonghyo Shrine, Seoul, South Korea, Korea, Asia

Mass bathing in the Ganges (Ganga) River during the Kartik Poonima Festival, Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh State, India, Asia

Pilgrims on the ghats by the River Ganges (Ganga), Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh State, India, Asia

Woman carrying food offerings on her head, celebrating festival of Kuningan, Ubud village, island of Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks and nuns gather for a ceremony for peace, Bayon temple, Angkor, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Statue with flower offering, Odalan, ceremony, at Bataun temple, Bali, Indonesia, Asia

Shiva Hindu temple and Ahylia Fort Complex on banks of the Narmada River, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India

Buddhist monk kneeling in prayer at the feet of a statue of the standing Buddha, Wat Intharawihan, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monk kneeling and praying at the feet of a standing Buddha, Wat Intharawihan, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Coptic Christian Christmas service, Church of St. Barbara, Old Cairo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

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

The Descent of Our Lady of Snows shrine carried through the streets during religious festival, Santa Cruz de la Palma, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

Cemetery Vigils, Day of the Dead, Tzintzuntzan, near Patzcuaro, Michoacan state, Mexico, North America

The procession of St. Antony, Amalfi, Campania, Italy, Europe

Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel, Middle East

Romeria, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, North America

Priests at Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, Paris, France, Europe

Orthodox Coptic celebration, Chatenay-Malabry, Hauts-de-Seine, France, Europe

Evening celebration in Parmath, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, Asia

Tibetan Buddhists monks at Losar (Tibetan New Year) in the Dalai Lama Temple, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Tibetan Buddhist monk with prayer wheel and beads at Losar (Tibetan New Year) in the Dalai Lama Temple, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Catholic Mass, Hautecombe Abbey, Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, Savoie, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony, Chua Thanh Buddhist temple, Lang Son, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Orthodox Easter, Athos, Greece, Europe

Religious mural inside Greek Orthodox church of Saint Mary (Panagia Monastery), Dhermi, Albania, Europe

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

Chariot in festival procession, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Woman with incense inside a temple, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, Indochina, Asia

Romeria, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, North America

Orthodox Coptic celebration, Chatenay-Malabry, Hauts-de-Seine, France, Europe

Christmas Mass, Our Lady of Victory and St. Anthony of Padua's church, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Worshippers outside the Basilica during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Funeral of Bishop Mons. Luigi Martella in Depressa, Puglia, Italy, Europe

Easter procession, Oaxaca, Mexico, Central America

The Descent of Our Lady of Snows shrine carried through the streets during religious festival, Santa Cruz de la Palma, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

St. Maria Maddalena procession, Atrani, Amalfi coast, Campania, Italy, Europe

Buddhist ceremony, Tu An Buddhist temple, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Eucharist adoration in Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Tibetan monks performing rituals, Nepal, Asia

Communion during Mass, World Youth Day, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

Prayer with the Four Species at the Priestly Blessing Ceremony by the Western Wall at Succot, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Holy sacrament adoration in Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony at Ancestors' altar, Tu An Buddhist temple, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Catholic Mass. Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Burning incense on religious holiday, Chinatown, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Youth carrying World Youth Days cross during the Pope's visit to Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Worshippers during the Pope's visit to Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

The Priestly Blessing Ceremony by the Western Wall at Succot, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Buddhist ceremony at Ancestors' altar, Tu An Buddhist temple, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Memorial ceremony, Confucius Birthday, September 28th, Confucius temple, Taiwan, Asia

Balinese priest performing a ritual at a small shrine, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hindu wedding at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

St. Maria Maddalena procession, Atrani, Amalfi coast, Campania, Italy, Europe

Procession in Paris during Pope Benedict XVI 's visit to France, Paris, France, Europe

Night vigil, Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

The Priestly Blessing Ceremony by the Western Wall at Succot, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Church of St.Kames, Nave, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Jewish wedding, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France, Europe

Feet washing ritual during Maundy Thursday celebration in a Catholic church, Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony, Tu An Buddhist temple, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Priest ordinations in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Crowd cheering the Pope during Holy Mass during Pope Benedict XVI 's visit to France, Paris, France, Europe

Eucharistic celebration, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Priest ordinations in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Mass outside Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Eucharist in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Mass on Place Vauban at the end of a traditionalist Catholic pilgrimage organised by Saint Pie X fraternity, Paris, France, Europe

Tabaski, a religious festival held throughout Mali when hundreds of men and boys worship outdoors, Djenne, Mali, West Africa, Africa

Pieta sculpture on Palm Sunday, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Chalice and host wafers, Reims, Marne, France, Europe

Makuya procession in Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Chaldean Mass in Jabal Lweibdeh, Amman, Jordan, Middle East

Feast of the Immaculate Conception in St. John's cathedral, Lyon, Rhone, France, Europe

Mass in and outside Chartres cathedral during Catholic pilgrimage, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France, Europe

Catholic Mass, Hautecombe Abbey, Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, Savoie, France, Europe

Eucharist adoration in Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

New Testament in Latin at a traditionalist Catholic pilgrimage, Villepreux, Yvelines, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony, Tu An Buddhist temple, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Young Adults Mission 18-30 of Chemin Neuf, Hautecombe Abbey, Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, Savoie, France, Europe

Priests and seminarists at Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, Paris, France, Europe

Orthodox Jew in the Belz Synagogue, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Paris Archbishop carrying a cross on Good Friday, Paris, France, Europe

Procession outside Lome cathedral, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Maundy Thursday Eucharist celebration in a Catholic church, Paris, France, Europe

Eastern (Oriental) church yearly mass in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Priest ordinations in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Priest ordinations at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Chaldean Mass in Jabal Lweibdeh, Amman, Jordan, Middle East

Purim celebration in the Belz Synagogue, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Priest ordinations in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, France, Europe