Reading of Esther Megila during the Purim Festival, Israel, Middle East

Ganesh festival, Paris, France, Europe

Detail of icon of Christ displayed during Easter week in a Greek Orthodox church, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece, Europe

Hindu festival, especially for women, Bhaktapur (Bhadgaun), Nepal, Asia

Sukhot celebration in the sukha of the Eastern Parkway Lubavitch Synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, North America

Three Palestinian priests heading the procession at St. Steven's Gate during Palm Sunday Catholic procession, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Christian Orthodox Easter week celebration in Saint Stephane Greek Orthodox cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Chariot festival offerings, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Easter Wednesday sacred oil consecration in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France, Europe

Mukkram, Muslim festival, India, Asia

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

Nativity scene, Paris, France, Europe

Easter candle, Reims, Marne, France, Europe

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

Icon of Christ displaying during Orthodox Easter week, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece, Europe

Light festival procession in Lyon, Rhone, France, Europe

Easter Sunday, Lima, Peru, South America

St. Nizier church, Light festival in Lyon, Rhone, France, Europe

Light festival procession in front of St. Johns Cathedral, Lyon, Rhone, France, Europe

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Members of a brotherhood carrying a religious float in procession

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Crowds mill around the giant cloak of the Virgen de la Trinidad as her float passes through the city streets

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Members of a brotherhood strain to carry a float

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Smoking candles held during a procession

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - A brotherhood member manages a smoke while helping to carry a float in procession on Palm Sunday

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Members of a brotherhood carry a float in procession

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

Sadhus rally initiation at ujjain kumbh mela, indi

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

Some religious people reach Brahmayani temple measuring their body length. To do so, a person prostrates on the ground and extends his clasped hands above his head. An assistant puts a few grains of rice at the end of the clasped hands as a marking point. Then, the man steps to this marking point and then prostrates again. Bhaktapur, Nepal

The Day of the Dead, Nixqutl, suburb of Mexico City, Mexico, North America

Man lighting first candle for the Hanukkah festival, while saying the benediction, Kol Haneshamah conservative Jewish community, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Yoruba women dance in trance at a sacred water festival to honor their animistic spirits. nigeria, africa

Some religious people reach Brahmayani temple measuring their body length. To do so, a person prostrates on the ground and extends his clasped hands above his head. An assistant puts a few grains of rice at the end of the clasped hands as a marking point. Then, the man steps to this marking point and then prostrates again. Bhaktapur, Nepal

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

Cremation ceremony on banks of Bagmati River at Shivaratri festival, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Mani mask dancers at mani festival marks setting in of spring season in humla. masked dances diversion a long-established part of bonpo religious ceremonies.Dance Is means by which supernatural forces be brought down to world of. Dance recalls a time when distance between spirits samll. Humla, north-west nepal

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Ethiopian cross and the stela of king ezana

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. The view from the steps of the great stela towards the church of saint mary zion

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. His holiness abuna paulos walking down from the steps to the great stela

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

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participant, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participant, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participant, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Dragon dance, Tai Kok Tsui Temple Fair, Hong Kong, China, Asia

Dragon dance, Tai Kok Tsui Temple Fair, Hong Kong, China, Asia

Teej Festival at Sanatan Hindu Temple, Alperton, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Christmas lights, Macy's, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America

Christmas window display, Macy's, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Priests holding elaborate ethiopian crosses during the event

South sudan saint josephs feast day (may 1st) being celebrated by catholic community in yei. procession

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Ethiopian cross and the stela of king ezana

Ethiopia interior of church at abuna garima monastery, tigray

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Priests holding elaborate ethiopian crosses during the event

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

Ethiopia painting of mary holding infant jesus. Interior of church at abuna garima monastery, tigray

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Pilgrims venerating mary, insdie the church of saint mary of zion

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. The patriarch and archbishops assembled beneath the stela of king ezana

Ethiopia priest walking passed mural depicting abuna aregawi and the serpent, kidana merhet church, tigray

Ethiopia girogis church, adwa, dring a ceremony when patriarch paulos made a visit. Tigray. Onlookers at the event

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

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Worshippers assembled insdie the church of saint mary of zion

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

Indonesia, Bali, Santhi Karya Ungasan Village, New Year Sanggyang Ceremony, Behind 2 Pemangkus (Priests) In Trance

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

Chariot Festival participant, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) -Two girls play during a lull in one of the processions

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - A girl collects candle wax from a penitent during a procession

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Penitents in procession

Ethiopia girogis church, adwa, dring a ceremony when patriarch paulos made a visit. Tigray. Onlookers at the event

Chariot Festival participant, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Some of the one hundred members of a brotherhood required to carry the religious floats

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) -Members of a brotherhood strain to carry a float

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Drummers leading a procession

Corpus Christi procession in Toledo, Spain, Europe

France, Corsica, South, Ajaccio, The Harbour , Saint Erasme Fishermen Festival, Statue Of The Virgin On A Fishing Boat

Torremolinos -Andalucia - Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) Watching the procession

Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa Shinto Shrine, Tori No Ichi (New Year Festival), Arrows Offerings

Ethiopia girogis church, adwa, dring a ceremony when patriarch paulos made a visit. Tigray. Onlookers at the event

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Chariot Festival participants, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - A penitent in procession

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - Banners held in procession

Cremation ceremony on banks of Bagmati River at Shivaratri festival, Pashupatinath Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Malaga-Spain - Easter Week (Semana Santa) - A crowd watches a procession

Chariot Festival participant, Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Ethiopia musicians at kidana merhet church, tigray

Ethiopia girogis church, adwa, dring a ceremony when patriarch paulos made a visit. Tigray. Priests chanting

Sadhus (Holy men) at Shivaratri festival, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Preparing the Tamil procession in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia