Buddhist sacred texts and a roll of Sai-Sin (sacred thread), Life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Supreme Buddha, Geneva, Switzerland, Europe

Monk praying, and Sai-Sin (sacred thread) in use in Buddhist ceremony, International Buddhist Center of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Europe

Sai-Sin (sacred thread) in use at a temple ceremony, International Buddhist Center of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Europe

Sai-Sin (sacred thread) in use at a temple ceremony, International Buddhist Center of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Europe

Sandalwood paste for tilaks, and kumkum, the sacred combination of holy thread and coloured powder, Sonepur, Bihar, India, Asia

Buddhist monks praying, Sai Sin, the cotton thread symbolizing the sacred bond, Wat Simuong (Wat Si Muang), Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman tying thread on arm of boy during the Sacred Thread ceremony, The Hindu male rite of passage ceremony, England, United Kingdom

Young girl tying a thread to the wrist of a young boy during the Sacred Thread ceremony, The Hindu male rite of passage ceremony, England, United Kingdom

Woman tying thread on wrist of man during the Sacred Thread ceremony, The Hindu male rite of passage ceremony, England, United Kingdom

Sacred Thread Ceremony Hindu male rite of passage, England, United Kingdom

Woman tying thread on wrist of man during the Sacred Thread ceremony, The Hindu male rite of passage ceremony, England, United Kingdom