Tiling around blue window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Lady in burqa feeding famous white pigeons whilst child chases them, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Tiling round shuttered window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, founded in the 12th century, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

Famous white pigeons at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, founded by the Seljuks in the 12th century, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

White pigeons fly around the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Memorial plaque of assassinated Mujahadin leader Ahmad Shah Massoud know as the ' Lion of Panshir' an Afghan National Hero, situated opposite the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Family looking at famous white pigeons at the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Tiling round door, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assissinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Tilework detail, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

The famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Family feeding the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Woman pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Famous white pigeon sits below window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Lady in burqa feeding famous white pigeons at Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Tiling round blue window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assissinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrim sits in a niche at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Tiling round shuttered windows, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assissinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Famous white pigeon in minaret, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Family looking at the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Street boys stand amongst the famous white pigeons with the necklaces they sell to make a living, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims outside the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assissinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Man feeding the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

People feeding the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Tiling round blue window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assissinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Family feeding the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

People feeding famous white pigeons at Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Street boy walks amongst the famous white pigeons, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Street boy selling necklaces at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Street boy who sells necklaces for living and ladies in burquas, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

The Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Hazrat ali mosque in Mazar-i-sharif (afghanistan) where Ali is believed to be burried.

Hazrat ali mosque in Mazar-i-sharif (afghanistan) where Ali is believed to be burried.

Women in burqas flock like doves to the entrance of the main mosque at the Blue Mosque complex, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, September 23, 2002. Wednesday mornings are reserved for women to come and worship at the mosque.Elaborate tilework and decorated spires adorn the mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

A man feeds white doves at dawn in front of the Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province. Hundreds of doves, who are fed by worshippers and tended by special workers, live around the mosque, and it is thought that the place is so holy that a grey or brown dove will turn white if it lands on the Mosque. The mosque is also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

Tajik women proudly pose with their children, burqa's thrown back, in front of the main entrance to the Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province. Wednesday mornings are reserved for women to come and worship at the mosque. Elaborate tilework and decorated spires adorn the mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

A large Turkomen family who have made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Hazrat Ali at the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, pose for a photo in front of the temple complex. The Blue Mosque is considered to be one of the most important and beautiful buildings in Afghanistan