Little shrine in a volcanic landscape and autumnal colors, Osorezan Bodaiji Temple, Mutsu, Aomori prefecture, Honshu, Japan, Asia

Flowers for offering at a Hindu temple, New Delhi, India, Asia

Buddha Park, Xieng Khuan, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Finished, painted and dressed deities ready for offering at festival pujas, Kumartuli district, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Asia

China altar with candles in a temple in a village in yunnan province

Written offering and wishes in a Shinto temple in Tokyo, Japan, Asia

Hands and flowers, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Sukhothai Traimit, solid gold Buddha, 15 feet high and weighing 5.5 tons, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Vishnu shrines with offering placed, Tiruchirappali, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Gold Buddha with money offering in hand, Bagan, Central Myanmar, Myanmar

Big Buddha, Koh Samui, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

A suchil, a religious offering, Botanical Gardens, San Miguel de Allende (San Miguel), Guanajuato State, Mexico, North America

Detail of statue with offering of marigold flowers in the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

A line of women at a ceremony for the ordination of Buddhist monks, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Tomb of Horemheb, Valley of the Kings, Thebes, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Egypt, North Africa

Young Buddhists have their heads shaved as an offering to Buddha, Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Aisa

Temple priest before the image of the ten armed warrior goddess Durga, Durga Puja Festival, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Asia

Water offering at Tuesday Corner statue, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Indian Hindu pilgrims bathing in The Ganges River at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Indian Hindu pilgrims bathing in The Ganges River at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Faded elegance of a salon offering tattoo, piercing, body jewellery in Youghal, County Cork, Southern Ireland

Buddhist visitors applying gold leaf as traditional offering at Dhamakh Stupa at Sarnath ruins near Varanasi, Benares, Northern India

Lighted candles offering Buddhist prayers at Dharmarajika Stupa at Sarnath near Varanasi, Northern India

Trader by the Damnern Saduak floating market in Bangkok, Thailand

Horse being fed an apple, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Silver jewels - necklaces, bangles, bracelets, earrings, pendants with semi-precious stones - on display at a market in Pakistan

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

Roberto Escobar in his home of Medellin, under the panel offering 2 millions American dollars for his own capture, Colombia, South America

Local women giving rice offering to Buddhist monks, early morning, Don Daeng island, Mekong River, Muang, near Pakse, Champasak Province, Laos

Priest celebrating the River Ganges, Aarti by offering incense, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Voodoo ritual performed in Ouidah, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hawan (offering to fire god) at Karbi Anglong District Brahma Dharma Jyoti Mondir, Langhin Manikpur, Assam, India, Asia

Hawan (offering to fire god) at Karbi Anglong District Brahma Dharma Jyoti Mondir, Langhin Manikpur, India, Asia

Hawan (offering to fire god) at Karbi Anglong District Brahma Dharma Jyoti Mondir, Langhin Manikpur, Assam, India, Asia

Zhangqian Memorial Hall, ceremony offering sacrifices to Zhangqian, Chenggu, Shaanxi Province, China, Asia

Zhangqian Memorial Hall, ceremony offering sacrifices to Zhangqian, Chenggu, Shaanxi Province, China, Asia

Zhangqian Memorial Hall, ceremony offering sacrifices to Zhangqian, Chenggu, Shaanxi Province, China, Asia

Local man making an offering in a Buddhist temple, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Local woman making an offering in a Buddhist temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Local woman making an offering in a Buddhist temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Local man making an offering in a Buddhist temple, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Offerings of kagami-mochi (mirror rice cakes) at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo, Japan, Asia

Watch seller in park of the Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Great vow shrine, Fo Guang Shan temple, the biggest Buddhist temple in Europe, Bussy St. George, Seine et Marne, France, Europe

Buddhist worshipper placing incense sticks on joss stick pot, Taoist temple, Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Two women prepare an offering to the sea at Jimbaran Beach on the island of Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

A lady gives her daily offering in Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Farm of Combes sign, La Ferme des Combes, in the Dordogne offering degustation vente produits de la ferme, France

Priests celebrating the River Ganges, Aarti by offering incense, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Offerings in Khanh Anh temple, Evry, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France, Europe

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Statues of the Buddha, Angkor Wat, dating from between 1113 and 1150 AD, Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Palestinian volunteer offering coffee at the Physicians for Human Rights' mobile clinic, Souk Ba, Palestine National Authority, Middle East

Betel offering to a revered nun, Wat Rakang, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monk near Swayambhunath offering to bless people at a roadside altar, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Ribbons tied for children, money or personal object offered, Kunya Urgench, Turkmenistan, Central Asia, Asia

A Chinese man praying and offering incense, Thian Hock Keng Temple, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

Offering of truffles, honey and olive oil on the market, Rovinj, Istria, Croatia, Europe

Buddhist ceremony for the dead at Bongeunsa temple, Seoul, South Korea, Asia

Easter Sunday, Lima, Peru, South America

Offering to the Hindu gods durring the tonsuring (mundan) of a small boy, Saijpur Ras, Gujarat, India, Asia

Ceremony at Hindu Temple, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

A royal Brahmin performing a ceremony, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman giving offerings at a shrine, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Offering of money, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Offerings for Puja in a Hindu temple, Haridwar, India, Asia

Temple offering, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Offerings at Tamil Catholic celebration in Antony, France, Europe

Paper offering for the dead at Kun Lam temple, Macao, China, Asia

Offering of money, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman in temple at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman with lotus flower, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Rice offering at the Vincennes Buddhist Pagoda, Paris, France, Europe

Offering and picture of the Dalai Lama, Paris, France, Europe

Coin offering at the Vincennes Buddhist Pagoda, Paris, France, Europe

Horse milk is sprinkled into the four directions, as offerings to the nature spirits of the area, the sadak, or ?owners Of the earth.? Sometimes vodka is used instead, or as well. Milk is sacred to the mongol shamans, who believe that life on earth is descended from beings who originally came here on winged horses. Here two young female shamans make the offering in a ritual manner. Countryside mongols make this offering every morning on waking up; they usually also offer smoke, that the wind carries around the world as a prayer for harmony and prosperity. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

Newars, the dominant clan of Kathmandu Valley, playing traditional music. Bhaktapur, Nepal

13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time. Tov province, mongolia

Hindu scripture with cymbals, Bhaktapur, Nepal

Horse milk is sprinkled into the four directions, as offerings to the nature spirits of the area, the sadak, or ?owners Of the earth.? Sometimes vodka is used instead, or as well. Milk is sacred to the mongol shamans, who believe that life on earth is descended from beings who originally came here on winged horses. Here two young female shamans make the offering in a ritual manner. Countryside mongols make this offering every morning on waking up; they usually also offer smoke, that the wind carries around the world as a prayer for harmony and prosperity. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

Invocation of the tengir (celestial) forces by means of drumming and dance. Like the sun, fire is a force that can attract as a magnet to the tengir forces. Tuvshintugs dorj (in yellow) carries the status of a ?Royal Shaman,? Meaning that he can channel three-quarters or more of the hundred tengir energies. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

Invocation of the tengir (celestial) forces by means of drumming and dance. Like the sun, fire is a the shamans often wear a ?light-protecting visor? Over their eyes. The radiance of the celestial spirits can be extremely strong, and this protects the onlookers from the blast of light when the celestial spirits enter the body of the shaman. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

Invocation of the tengir (celestial) forces by means of drumming and dance. Like the sun, fire is a the shamans often wear a ?light-protecting visor? Over their eyes. The radiance of the celestial spirits can be extremely strong, and this protects the onlookers from the blast of light when the celestial spirits enter the body of the shaman. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

Horse milk is sprinkled into the four directions, as offerings to the nature spirits of the area, the sadak, or ?owners Of the earth.? Sometimes vodka is used instead, or as well. Milk is sacred to the mongol shamans, who believe that life on earth is descended from beings who originally came here on winged horses. Here two young female shamans make the offering in a ritual manner. Countryside mongols make this offering every morning on waking up; they usually also offer smoke, that the wind carries around the world as a prayer for harmony and prosperity. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

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

N month of november 7 days before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They bring their precious herbs, minerals special animal glands to be blessed. A selected amount of herbs is placed in a copper vessel placed on monastery alter. 7 days amchis go through an elaborate potenization of these medicines through prayer other practices. Seen here is of amchis holding a dorje (sacred object used cutting through obscurations) which is lined from a vessel containing various herbs sitting on monastery alter to heart chakra. Chang tang nyee, ladakh, indi

Upmarket Ye Shanghai restaurant in former French concession offering high class Shanghai cuisine, Shanghai, China, Asia

Upmarket Ye Shanghai restaurant in former French concession offering high class Shanghai cuisine, Shanghai, China, Asia

Dim Sum (steamed), upmarket restaurant Ye Shanghai in former French concession offering high class Shanghai cuisine, Shanghai, China, Asia

13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time. Tov province, mongolia

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. Pilgrims walk through the entrance banner at main temple in bodhgaya. They carry kusha grass for offering. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis making torma, a ritual food offering. India

Invocation of the tengir (celestial) forces by means of drumming and dance. Like the sun, fire is a force that can attract as a magnet to the tengir forces. Tuvshintugs dorj carries the status of a ?Royal Shaman,? Meaning that he can channel three-quarters or more of the hundred tengir energies. 13th century national park, tov province, mongolia. 13th century national park comprises chinggis khan's giant statue museum and live museum "town from 13 century". The ancient nomadic mini kingdom is located in the distance of 130 km east of ulaanbaatar in area of erdene zuu of tov province. It takes 2 hours driving on paved road. In the live 13th century kingdom one will see and experience the authentic lifestyle of mongols, who were lived in powerful mongol empire?s Period. This place gives you a same feeling that famous traveler marco polo and william rubruck felt once upon time

Vultures, drigung. bodies what we most attached to, says of monks. Thats offering ones body carries greatest merit. believe that should benefit other beings at every stage of ones life. After completion of powa ceremony, corpse is traditionally offered to great vultures lammergeiers that frequent charnel grounds. Vultures descend on flayed corpse. Offering bodies to birds is same as reciting mantras. It brings merit benefit to dead person as well as to family friends bring here. While cutting up corpse i to keep a pure compassionate mind. would feel if someone felt cutting up your body. -tomdenla. Tibet