Pilgrims during the Hindu Thaipusam Festival at Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple, the seated kavadi (carrier) is in a trance with a needle through his tongue, and carrying a vel kavadi, decorated with peacock feathers, attached by spikes that pierce his skin, Selangor, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Pilgrim at the rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), 40 ft high, with roof in shape of Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims wearing traditonal gabi (white shawl) at festival at rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), roof shaped like a Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims wearing traditonal gabi (white shawl) at festival at rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), roof shaped like a Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Religious pictures of Lord Shiva and wife Parwati on sale at stall by the Golden Temple in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Indian men washing themselves and their clothes in waters of The Ganges River at Kali Ghat in City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Religious icons on sale in gift shop in the pilgrimage town of Lourdes in the Pyrenees, France

Indian Hindu men and women bathing and praying in the River Ganges by Kshameshwar Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, India

Traditional scene on River Ganges Hindu pilgrim pours Ganges water while praying at Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Indian Hindu couple bathing and praying in the River Ganges by Kshameshwar Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, India

Indian Hindu men and women bathing and praying in the River Ganges by Kshameshwar Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, India

Pilgrim couple on the Camino de Santiago PIlgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain

Cyclists and walker on the Camino de Santiago Pilgrim's route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain

Religious statues on sale in gift shop in the pilgrimage town of Lourdes in the Pyrenees, France

Pilgrims and tourists in Praza da Obradoiro by Baroque style cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Mass being celebrated by priest in Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Walker checks sign on Camino de Santiago Pilgrim's Walk, to Santiago de Compostela at Triacastela in Galicia, Spain

Indian Hindu men and women bathing and praying in the River Ganges by Kshameshwar Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, India

Facade do Obradoiro of the Baroque style Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Indian Hindu men and women bathing and praying in the River Ganges by Kshameshwar Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, India

Pilgrims and tourists in Praza da Obradoiro by Baroque style cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Indian Hindu men and women bathing and praying in the River Ganges by Kshameshwar Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, India

Indian pilgrims walk under the Vimana of the Brihadeeswarar Temple (Big Temple) in Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Maclean's medieval Celtic pilgrim cross, a 16th century monument on the Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides and Western Isles, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Interior Blue Mosque open for tourists and pilgrim built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1609, designed by architect Mehmet Aga, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Pilgrim with a Buddha card on head at Dirapuk over Zutul Puk, Tibet, China, Asia

Sadhus walking between pilgrims, Allahabad Kumbh Mela, World's largest religious gathering, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Pilgrims, devotees and locals outside the walls of the Jagannath Temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an embodiment of Krishna, situated in Puri,the oldest of India's four holiest Hindu religious centres, in the State of Odisha, India, Asia

Our Lady of the Incarnation Church, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal

Christian pilgrims, Easter festival, Sainte Marie de Sion, Axoum (Axum) (Aksum), Tigre region, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrimage for blessing of the sick, Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrenees, France, Europe

A group of Franciscan pilgrims wearing ceremonial shawls near the Jaffa Gate during Easter celebrations, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Elderly Sikh pilgrim with bundle and stick walking around holy pool, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab state, India, Asia

Pilgrim at doors of St. Mary of Zion new church, built by Haile Selassie in the 1960s, Axum, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrim group with shells on rucksacks on the Camino de Santiago Pilgrim's Walk to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain

Religious pictures of Lord Shiva and wife Parwati on sale at stall by the Golden Temple in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Pilgrims wearing traditonal gabi (white shawl) at festival at rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), roof shaped like a Greek cross, Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims at Monastery of Jasna Gora, during the Marian Feast of Assumption, Czestochowa, Malopolska, Poland, Europe

Facade do Obradoiro of the Baroque style Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Shrine at No-Gonbad Mosque (Mosque of Nine Cupolas) also known as Khoja Piada or Masjid-e Haji Piyada (Mosque of the Walking Pilgrim), dating from the 9th centruy AD, the earliest Islamic monument in the country, Balkh (Mother of Cities), Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims at Umayyad Mosque, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Damascus, Syria, Middle East

Orthodox Easter Palm procession from Betphage to the Old City walking down the Mount of Olives towards Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

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

Pilgrims at Umayyad Mosque, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Damascus, Syria, Middle East

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

Young tourists in Alameda Park view Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, cityscape, Galicia, Spain

Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, and cityscape from Alameda Park, Galicia, Northern Spain

Pilgrims touching a column on the Porch of La Gloria, Santiago Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, Europe

Pilgrim at the rock-hewn monolithic church of Bet Giyorgis (St. George's), Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims praying in the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

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

Christian pilgrims, festival of Easter, Cathedral, Axoum (Axum) (Aksum), Tigre region, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims at Monastery of Jasna Gora, during the Marian Feast of Assumption, Czestochowa, Malopolska, Poland, Europe

Romanesque church of Eunate, pilgrims burial place, dating from 12th century, Camino de Santiago, Navarre, Euskadi, Spain, Europe

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

Orthodox Easter Palm procession from Betphage to the Old City on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Couple pass sign on Camino de Santiago Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela at Triacastela in Galicia, Spain

Pilgrim reads Holy Bible in Bet Maryam (St. Mary's) courtyard, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims prostrating in front square, Jokhang Buddhist temple, Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia

Balanced rock covered in gold leaf, major Buddhist stupa and pilgrim site, Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Young tourists in Alameda Park view Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, cityscape, Galicia, Spain

Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, cityscape from Alameda Park, Galicia, Northern Spain

Pilgrims praying in the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Pilgrims at main entrance arch, Sufi shrine of Gazargah, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, Europe

Tomb of Jesus Christ, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old Walled City, Jerusalem, Israel

Pilgrim at doors of St. Mary of Zion new church, built by Haile Selassie in the 1960s, Axum, Ethiopia, Africa

Basilica di San Francesco, where the body of St. Francis was placed in 1230, Assisi, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Umbria, Italy, Europe

Sikh pilgrim bathing in the pool of the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib temple, Delhi, India, Asia

Two Sikh pilgrims bathing and praying in the early morning in holy pool, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab state, India, Asia

Facade do Obradoiro of the Baroque style Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Interior Blue Mosque open for tourists and pilgrim built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1609, designed by architect Mehmet Aga, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Christian pilgrims, Easter festival, Sainte Marie de Sion (St. Mary of Zion), Axoum (Axum) (Aksum), Tigre region, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrims at Adam's Peak watching the sunrise, Sri Lanka, Asia

Pilgrims in the hallway, Sufi shrine of Gazargah, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims seated in front of the 39 ft high standing Buddha, Aukana, Sri Lanka, Asia

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

Pilgrim praying at altar with miniature orange toriis in background, Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, Kyoto, Kansai, Honshu, Japan, Asia

Pilgrim's hand caressing the stone at Station VI on the Via Dolorosa during Good Friday Catholic procession, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Pilgrim reading religious book on church steps, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Young pilgrim reading the Bible, World Youth Day, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

Balanced rock covered in gold leaf, major Buddhist stupa and pilgrim site, Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Nuns in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old Walled City, Jerusalem, Israel

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

Priests in black holding olive wood crosses in procession to the River Jordan during Christian Orthodox ceremony at Epiphany, Qasr el Yahud, Israel, Middle East

Priests in black holding olive wood crosses in procession to the River Jordan during Christian Orthodox ceremony at Epiphany, Qasr el Yahud, Israel, Middle East

Balanced rock covered in gold leaf, major Buddhist stupa and pilgrim site, Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

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

Pilgrims in monastery courtyard,. Sakya, Tibet, China, Asia

Groups of pilgrims in small boats on their way to a religious ceremony on the River Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Asia

Zen pilgrim statue by Torao Yazaki, Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, France, Europe

Pilgrims touching a stone in the shrine on Besh Barmaq mountain, Siyazan, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Asia

Disabled woman in the Lourdes basilica, Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Pilgrimage at Notre Dame de la Roche, Notre-Dame de la Gorge, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Men and women washing in the River Ganges at Scindia Ghat, Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Tens of thousands of buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to bodhgaya, a town in northern india, to hear exiled tibetan spiritual leader hh dalai lama give the kalachakra-religious teachings. Pilgrim take rickshaw to the main temple in bodhgaya. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

Trulshig rinpoche, blesses. Tulshig rinpoche blesses. Tulshig rimpoche s followers believe that he, like many other lamas, reassumes a human body after death in order to return to disciples. previous incarnation of tulshig rimpoche spent several years at dzarongpu monastery (highest monastery in world located at 16,500’ within sight of northern side of mt everest) served as of ngawong tenzin teachers. He promised to return in next life, so at tulshig s death ngawong tenzin norbu sought found reincarnation. current tulshig rimpoche then came to monastery studied with ngawong tenzin norbu. relationship between teacher student, in which a teacher returns to study from former student, maintains lineage over generations. Bhutan

A brass plate full of offerings to God. Coconut, dried fish, black soya beans, duck eggs, oiled wicks, colour powder, bitten rice, betel nut, hand made rice paper incense, unhusked rice and flowers. Brahmayani Temple, Bhaktapur, Nepal

India. Pilgrimage to malayattoor, a hill which saint thomas the apostle is believed to have climbed around 55 ad, leaving his footprints at the top. It is a major pilgrim centre for christians as well as hindus and moslems, who believe the trip can cure them of physical and mental disease. Kerala. Statue of thomas in the lower church

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