Young girls selling food, Gerewol festival, courtship ritual competition among the Wodaabe Fula people, Niger, West Africa, Africa

Colourful dressed girl at the Gerewol festival, courtship ritual competition among the Wodaabe Fula people, Niger, West Africa, Africa

Tribal ritual dances at the Hornbill Festival, Kohima, Nagaland, India, Asia

Republican Guard, Parliament, Syntagma, Athens, Greece, Europe

Graveyard at St Amand de Coly, Dordogne, France

Graveyard at St Amand de Coly, Dordogne, France

Saint-Gervais traditional mountain guides festival, alphorn players, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Sikh priest and holy book at Sikh wedding, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Woman pouring water over flowers on an altar as a religious ritual, Kedar Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Asia

Tibetan, coming of age ritual, Qinghai, China, Asia

Batara Turum Kabeh ceremony, Hindu temple of Besakih, island of Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ritual washing in the Tirta Empul temple, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Koshti, traditional ritual training course for warriors in the Yazd Zourkhaneh, gymnasium or House of Strength, Yazd, Iran, Middle East

Sikh temple ritual, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Grave at cemetery graveyard at St Amand de Coly, Dordogne, France

Changing of the guard, Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark, Scandinavia, Europe

The Sanctuary, ancient ritual site from about 2500BC, Avebury, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Guardians of the volcano, Merapi, Yogyakarta region, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Tribal ritual dances at the Hornbill Festival, Kohima, Nagaland, India, Asia

Diwali Puja, Jalaram Prathna Hindu temple, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Guardians of the volcano, Merapi, Yogyakarta region, island of Java, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Candomble priestess performing a ritual during Lemanja festival in Rio Vermelho, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, South America

The biggest Nat ritual, Festival of Spirits, Taungbyon, Mandalay Division, Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Diwali Puja, Jalaram Prathna Hindu temple, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Novice monk ceremony, Maung Sing, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ceremony for archery festival, Tokyo, Japan, Asia

Novice monk ceremony, Wat Xieng Jai, Maung Sing, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

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

Sikh temple ritual, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East

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

Jews buying Sukhot ritual items, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Mau Son Taoist temple, woman at Taoist ceremony, ritual of offerings, Sapa, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Boy about to become a monk, Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar, Asia

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

Woman participating in voodoo ceremony, Abomey, Benin (Dahomey), Africa

Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims prostrating at the Jokhang temple, Barkhor, Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia

O-mikuji, fortune telling papers, Sapporo Shrine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, Asia

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

Ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes, founded in Konya by Mevalana Celaleddin Rumi, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Kava ceremony outside, Daloma village, Yasawa Island, Fiji, Pacific

Man in trance during voodoo ceremony, Abomey, Benin (Dahomey), Africa

Woman participating in voodoo ceremony, Abomey, Benin (Dahomey), Africa

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

Makuna-colombian shamans,

Monks offer butter lamps. Bodgaya, india. Monks offer butter lamps in front of mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Humla, shamans. shamans central to ceremonial life, with their spirit possession high point of every collective ritual. Their white wool tufted turnans match description of zhangzhung’s priests

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

Budhist lamas in prayer, bodhgaya, india. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Makuna-colombian shamans,

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

Boys in ritual costume, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Xavante warriors prepare to wrestle wooden poles, a of taming or harnessing dark jungle forests. Brazil

Nepal. Sonam & boom praying at charnel grounds. Humla. Vajrayana is tantric mahasiddha, lives fearlessly in terrifying places like remote jungles charnel grounds. nyingma lamas perform ritual at cremation grounds. lama rattles damaru, a small ritual drum to have origins in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bones dried human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. other lama, boom 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

Monks offer butter lamps. Kalachakra initiation, bodhgaya. India. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddhas enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Wearing tree bark cloth masks and skirts, dancers representing fish spirits are invited during the season of the peach palm harvest to drink the juice. it is a feast and ritual exchange: the host group offers the spirits large quantities of peach palm juice, smoked meat and fish, and shaman-blessed coca and snuff. the visitors are the costumed dancers impersonating animal spirits. people eat the meat and fish, animal spirits receive the fruits of peach palm, which are cultivated, harvested, and processed by humans. this exchange expresses the idea that people and animals depend on each other for survival and reproduction. vaupes basin, eastern colombia amazon, population: 600

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

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

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

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

Kenya. Masai women getting ready to dance at their masai village within the amboseli national park

Kalchakra initiation. holiness 14th dalai lama conferring giving kalachakra initiation in bodgaya, india. Because of profundity, kalachakra initiation be bestowed only by most realized of tibets lamas. Rays of light at heart of lama-inseparable from kalachakra-draw in. Entering mouth pass through center of body, through vajra path enter mothers lotus, melting into a luminous drop which dissolves into emptiness. From within emptiness arises a jewel from which arise as a deity embraced by consort mamaki. -instructions visualization in kalachakra tantra

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

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

Monks offer butter lamps. Bodgaya, india. Monks offer butter lamps in front of mahabodhi temple marks site of buddhas enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Monks offer butter lamps prayer, kalachakra initiation, bodhgaya. India. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Tantric ritual impliments of, on right hand is (drilbubell on left is dorje, symbolizing male female principle, skillful means wisdom

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

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

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

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 performing puja at potenization ceremony. Amchis performing rituals during potenization ceremony. India

Skalzang Norbu, 69, hand-builds "bumpa", or ritual vases, outside his home in Likir. Ladakh, India

Cremation at pashupati nath temple, kathmandu,nepal

Skalzang Norbu, 69, handbuilds a bumpa, or ritual vase that may be placed within a lukang or foundation of a house. Ladakh, India

Guatemala cahaba catholic church, first communion, peten

East timor. Sunday mass at the catholic church in aileu

A pair of Black guillemots bonding in Oban, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) mating ritual on their breeding grounds on Isla Rasa in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) pair in courtship ritual in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nesting and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) mating ritual in the Falkland Islands.

Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) mating ritual on their breeding grounds on Isla Rasa in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Cuttlefishes (Sepia officinalis) Mating. Babbacombe, Torquay, South Devon, UK (RR)

Chat ritual celebrated behind the Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) circling in a paring/mating ritual in the middle of Oban Bay with boats in the background. Black Guillemots nest in drains and holes in the sea wall in the middle of Oban town centre. Argyll, Scotland, UK

Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) mating ritual on their breeding grounds on Isla Rasa in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) mating ritual on their breeding grounds on Isla Rasa in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) mating ritual, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America, Pacific

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) Courtship. Babbacombe, Torquay, South Devon, UK. (A4 only).

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) mating ritual, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America, Pacific

Adult California Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) fluke-up dive - possible courtship behavior - in the calm waters of San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja, Mexico.

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) Two in courtship, being photographed by diver. Babbacombe, Torquay, South Devon, UK (RR)

Caucasian baby girl being baptized

Priest holding chalice in bowl

Priest blessing baby boy in church

Native American woman in traditional headdress performing ceremony

Native American woman wearing traditional headdress

Native American woman in traditional headdress performing ceremony

Native American woman in traditional headdress performing ceremony

Native American woman wearing traditional headdress

Native American woman in traditional headdress performing ceremony

Close up of bride and groom dolls near savings jar