Ceremonial elephant moves through crowd at Festival of Shivaratri in the streets of the holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Indian people in alleyway in the holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

View of rooftop of Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old City, Old City, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Hindu man sits on steps of Chet Singh Ghat on banks of The Ganges River in holy city of Varanasi, India

Head shot portrait of wise looking senior sadhu (holy man) dressed in orange with a bushy white beard, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Holy man raises a hand in front of a Ganesh statue draped in fairy lights at the Hindu festival of Shivaratri, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Hindu pilgrims queue to visit Vishwanatha Temple (Birla Temple) during Festival of Shivaratri in holy city of Varanasi, India

Orthodox priest, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old Walled City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Indian Hindu pilgrims queue to visit the Golden Temple during Festival of Shivaratri in holy city of Varanasi, Northern India

Indian Hindu men and women queue to visit Temple during Festival of Shivaratri in the holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

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

Holy man (sadhu) wearing dreadlocks and covered in ash, beside a fire, during the Hindu festival of Shivaratri, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepall, Asia

Women selling flowers and herbs for temple offerings by The Golden Temple during Festival of Shivaratri in holy city of Varanasi, India

Holy woman sitting on the ground at the Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

A Buddhist monk in saffron coloured robes praying in front of a statue of Buddha at the Buddhist Temple in Huating, China

Holy Mass at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica for the 23 new guards who will take the solemn oath, Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Huge crowds for holy Festival of Shivaratri in the streets of the holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Procession, Holy Week, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Hindu pilgrim with turban at Dashashwamedh Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, India

Muslim and Hindus in crowded street scene during holy Festival of Shivaratri in city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Huge crowds for holy Festival of Shivaratri in the streets of the holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Hindu pilgrim with turban at Dashashwamedh Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, India

Woman selling flowers and herbs for temple offerings by The Golden Temple during Festival of Shivaratri in holy city of Varanasi, India

Indian Hindu pilgrims queue to visit the Golden Temple during Festival of Shivaratri in holy city of Varanasi, Northern India

Street scene in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

View of Parish Church of the Holy Blood and cafes, Graz, Styria, Austria. Europe

Procession, Holy Week, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Hindu pilgrim with turban at Dashashwamedh Ghat in holy city of Varanasi, Benares, India

Pope Francis walking at the end of the Pentecost Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Old man sits, prays and hopes for donations on the Buddhist Lingkhor circuit, a traditional pilgrimage around the holy sites of the city, Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia

Huge crowds for holy Festival of Shivaratri in the streets of the holy city of Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Indian boys in western clothes at Vishwanatha Temple (Birla Temple) during Festival of Shivaratri in holy city of Varanasi, India

Sadhu smoking nirvana at pashupati nath temple, nepal

Aside from a life of simplicity focus on divine, many sadhus engage in a diverse array of practices both internal external in order to attain higher states of awareness consciousness. This sadhu chosen hatha yoga shows results--a well-disciplined, strong body--while holding kukkuta asana, or cock posture. India

Sadhus rally initiation at ujjain kumbh mela, indi

Sadhu doing yoga at hindu temple pashupati nath, nepal

A young sadhu reads holy scripture near fire. Worship is part of daily life. Some sadhus chant mantras. gayatri mantra is of several mantras that sacred incantations or mystical formulas of ancient literature. gayatri mantra given by brahma mentioned in rigveda is named after consort of brahma: o that glory- of savitri most high. Oh divine us mediate upon. it inspire understanding. goal of recitation is to attain realization. Practice lead mind into a transcendental union with deity.Pashupatinath, kathmandu, nepa

Nepal. Ritual, sonam/boom. Lobsangs cremation. Humla. traveler reached of journey! In freedom of infinite he is free from sorrow, fetters that bound thrown away, burning fever of life is no more,oesays dharmapada. Lobsang having spent whole life preparing moment of death, finds liberation on february 14, 1986. Extensive ritual follows cremation-traditionally a forty nine period, sonam lama rattles damaru. A small ritual drum to have origin in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bone dreid human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. Boom lama blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers. On makeshift altar rest chhome, votive lamps filled with butter, cups of water, grains, tormas, holy food made of barley meal decorated with medallions of butter offered to gods. Alone, boom lama continues prayers of deceased

Religion, ethiopia. Monk (in pink, abba gebra kidan) staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. altar boy lights candles of young girls after the ceremony

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girl waiting to give first confession

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint constantin of kavasila. 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

74 year sadhu stands on meditates. Nepal

H.h. 14th dalai lama. In early days most of individual tantric systems were kept separate from another, each regarded as a path to enlightment. here again passage of time brought about fusion cross-fertilization, a tradition of uniting various tantras emerged, at least on a simple level a daily meditation. India

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint george. 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Forehead designs, called tilakas, show a sadhus religious sectarian affiliations range from a simple daub of color to complex designs involving entire face. Vertical design of this sadhus tilaka shows to be a vaishnava, or follower of vishnu, preserver of universe. He is a benevolent gentle. gentility is reflected in worshippers devotess. application of a tilaka is usually done at start of each after bathing as a to sanctify body prepare it to receive divine. India

Religion, ethiopia. Monk (in pink, abba gebra kidan) staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint clement of ohrid. 13th century frescoes inside the orthodox church of saint clement, ohrid

Religion, bulgaria. The byzantine catholic church at plovdiv. Icons inside the church

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Religion, ethiopia. Orthodox archbishop gregorius visiting tullo gudo island and monastery of debre zion, lake ziway. Reading ancient parchment bible stored in church.

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. altar boy lights candles of young girls after the ceremony

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girls during mass

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girls during mass

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

A Pilgrim reads his Hindu scripture. Bhaktapur, Nepal

Honduras holy water font in front of catholic church. slum barrio of chamelecon, pedro sula

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten

India the peryar river, where thomas landed before climbing mount malayattoor. 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

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. close-up of girls hands wearing lace gloves

Watatulu girl reading bible, tanzania. Mwankale

Australia. Ukrainian greco- service at cathedral in melbourne.

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint john the baptist. Frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Woman reading scriptures, inside the church of saint mary of zion

Watatulu tribal children at mwankale , tanzania. - girl on right is reading bible

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girls and musicians at ceremony

Kailash, tibe

Religion, bulgaria. Bible study class at pokrov parish orthodox church, sofia

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girl waiting to give first confession

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saints cyril and methodius, statue. The town of ohrid on the shore of lake ohrid

Religion, bulgaria. Bible study class at pokrov parish orthodox church, sofia

East timor bishop ricardo of dili visiting oecussi-amben

Sadhu, indi

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint naum fresco. Orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Sadhu puting chandan tilaka, india

Italy the funeral of pope john paul ii at the vatican in rome, 8th april 2005. Pope souvenirs

Korea women praying at catholic chapel in karakan wholesale food market, seoul

Peru. Christ with cross, convent of santa catarina, arequipa

Australia. Amba suriel, coptic orthodox bishop of melbourne

Korea - catholic mass, seoul

Priest and couple joining hands in wedding

Apache men dancing in traditional regalia

Priest holding chalice in bowl

Priest baptizing baby girl with water

Apache man dancing in traditional regalia

Priest blessing baby boy in church

Father holding baby son in church

Priest in church

Priest holding baby girl in church

Volunteers cooking for the pilgrims who visit the Golden Temple, Each day they serve free food for 60,000 - 80,000 pilgrims, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Making chai. Volunteers cooking for the pilgrims who visit the Golden Temple, Each day they serve free food for 60,000 - 80,000 pilgrims, Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Bamboo forest, in Adashino Nembutsu ji temple , Arashiyama, Kyoto

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sadhu meditating, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Prem Mandir ( love temple) Temple of Divine Love, Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

Sadhu meditating, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Every night, Nightly puja on Dashaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Baeber shaving the head and beard of a pilgrim, Dashashwamedh ghat (main ghat), in Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Pilgrims praying and bathing, in the ghats of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.