Candle offering for Wesak celebrating Buddha's birthday, awakening and Nirvana, Great Buddhist Temple (Grande Pagode de Vincennes), Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist monk in his colourful costume and Antelope mask waiting for the next dance during Gangtey Tsechu at Gangte Goemba, Gangte, Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist monk wearing carved wooden mask waiting for the next dance during Gangtey Tsechu at Gangte Goemba, Gangte, Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Duruthu Perahera Full Moon Celebrations at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

Duruthu Perahera Full Moon Celebrations at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

Duruthu Perahera Full Moon Celebrations at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

Duruthu Perahera Full Moon Celebrations at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

Duruthu Perahera Full Moon Celebrations at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

Duruthu Perahera Full Moon Celebrations at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

Monks playing horns at a Tsechu (festiva), Gangtey Gompa (Monastery), Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Snow sculptures in Odori-koen, Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival), Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, Asia

Koneswaram Kovil Hindu temple, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Asia

Ullambana ceremony, when food is offered to the ancestors during the annual Ghost Festival, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

Paper lanterns being released at Loi Krathong festival, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist Festival (Tsechus), Haa Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Mask dancing enacting tales of Buddhist legend during a festival in Bhutan

People worshipping during Buddhist festival at the foot of temple chedi, Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monk with drum, Autumn Tsechu (festival) at Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimpu, Bhutan, Asia

Monk watching the dancers at Paro festival, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Pilgrims, Buddhist Festival (Tsechus), Haa Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

A group of monks at the annual Makka Bu Saa Buddhist celebration, during Pha That Luang (Buddhist Lent), in Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Phra Bang Buddha image in procession, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Drummers at Devil Dances, Tibetan Yellow Hat Sect, Guomarr Monastery, Qinghai, China, Asia

Buddhist monk in his colourful costume and mask waiting for the next dance during Gangtey Tsechu at Gangte Goemba, Gangte, Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Haa Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Monk in wooden mask in traditional costume, dancing in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

New Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum on South Bridge Road, built as a Buddhist Mandala in Chinese Tang Dynasty style, dedicated to Maitreya, the future Buddha, decorated for Vesak Festival, Chinatown, Outram, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

Perahera, Sri Lanka, Asia

Two young monks carrying basket of donations during the Pha That Luang Festival during Buddhist Lent, at the Great Stupa in Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Market during Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Procession in monastery courtyard with monk musicians blowing traditional horns, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Dancers in masks enacting tales of Buddhist legend at festival, Paro, Bhutan

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Festival dancers, Bumthang, Bhutan, Asia

Monks and priest at Thangbi Mani Tsechu (festival), Jakar, Bumthang, Chokor Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Wesak celebrating Buddha's birthday, awakening and Nirvana, Great Buddhist Temple (Grande Pagode de Vincennes), Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist Festival (Tsechus), Haa Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Group of monks dancing in the monastery courtyard rehearsing for Hemis festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Procession on the first morning of the Hemis Summer Festival, Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India, Asia

Buddhists playing the flute at religious festivity, Paro Tsechu, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Monks standing in yellow costumes accompanying those dancing with traditional drums, timpani and singing, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Festival dancers, Bumthang, Bhutan, Asia

Monks in procession during Full Moon Festival, Patho Ananda temple, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Alms on table to be distributed to monks, Ananda festival, Ananda Pahto (Temple) Old Bagan, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Monks performing traditional Black Hat dance at the Wangdue Phodrang Tsechu, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang (Wangdi), Bhutan, Asia

Old man and little boy at Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Haa Valley, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Festival dancers, Bumthang, Bhutan, Asia

Traditionally dressed dancer at the Paro Tsechu, a religious dance ceremony, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Wesak Buddhist festival, Vincennes Buddhist temple, Vincennes, France, Europe

Group of monks dancing in the monastery courtyard rehearsing for Hemis festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

A woman praying during Lhosar (Tibetan and Sherpa New Year festival), Bodhnath Stupa, Bagmati, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Lhosar (Tibetan and Sherpa New Year festival), Bodhnath Stupa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bagmati, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Festival dancers, Bumthang, Bhutan, Asia

Festival dancers, Bumthang, Bhutan, Asia

Market during Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Pilgrims at religious festival, Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Lama dancing, Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai, China, Asia

Open-sided Wihaan during the festival at Wat Phra That Luang, Lampang, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Traditionally dressed dancer at the Paro Tsechu, a religious dance ceremony, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Sri Lankan Buddhists celebrating Wesak festival, Vincennes, Val de Marne, France, Europe

Market during Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Procession in monastery courtyard with monk musicians wearing masks blowing traditional horns, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Wesak day celebration, Paris, France, Europe

Group of monks in wooden masks and traditional costumes in procession in the monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Wesak day celebration, Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist festival (Tsechu), Trashi Chhoe Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia

Releasing offerings into river at Loi Krathong festival, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Vesak celebration at Vincennes Buddhist temple, Paris, France, Europe

Close up of a monk dancing in full traditional costume in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Wesak day celebration in Khanh Anh temple, Evry, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France, Europe

Wesak day celebration, Paris, France, Europe

Sang sang rimpoche uses the dorje, a sacred ritual object to make the first decisive cut into the sand mandala on the last day of the mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal. solu khumbu, nepal

Fire ritual at chiwang monastery during the mani rimdu festival. these monks circumambulate the pyre after its ignition. one holds a long book wrapped in a felicitous scarf. the purifying fire takes the offering and raises them towards the sky in smoke. the circumambulatory ritual also recalls the way disciples showed respect for the buddhas body. solu khumbu, nepal

Monk beating traditional drum called gong, int he courtyard of chiwang monastery during mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal

A view of Swayambhu Stupa with full moon marks the 2554 years of Lord Gautam Buddha's birth. Nepalese and Tibetan pilgrims lit lamp at the Stupa with the hopes of peace in country. Despite of the on going political turmoil about non-formation of Constitution, Buddha Jayanti (Buddha's birthday) was celebrated throughout the nation in peace. Kathmandu, Nepal. 2010-May-27

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

The Boudhanath Stupa, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nepal, Asia

The Boudhanath Stupa, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nepal, Asia

Buddhist monks at the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the holiest Buddist sites in Kathmandu, during a buddist festival, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

The Boudhanath Stupa, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nepal, Asia

Lhasa Drepung Monastery Shoton festival or Shodon Festival with the unrolling of the huge thangka, a silk painting depicting Buddha Lhasa Tibet. Yogurt festival.

Fireworks at Ootorii, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Fireworks at Ootorii, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Fire with coal for the Chinese New Year festival, Great White Pagoda, village of Taihuai, Mount Wutai, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China

Buddhist monks honouring Wenshus the birthday celebrations, red columns of temple, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China

Fire with coal for the Chinese New Year festival, Great White Pagoda, village of Taihuai, Mount Wutai, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China

child monk, prayer ceremony, buddhist monks, court yard, during birthday of Wenshu, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China, Asia

Fire with coal for the Chinese New Year festival at the village of Taihuai, Mount Wutai, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China

monks in yellow and red robes play bamboo mouth organ and flute, during birthday of Wenshu, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China, Asia

Buddhist monks honouring Wenshus at the birthday celebrations, red columns of temple, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China

Monk filling the butter lamps in readiness for the birthday celebrations of Wenshu, Shuxiang Temple, Mount Wutai, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China

prayer ceremony, buddhist monks, court yard, during birthday of Wenshu, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China, Asia

Buddhist pilgrims at the Golden Rock to celebrate November fuell moon Tazaungdaing, Kyaiktiyo, Mon State, Myanmar