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ancient ritual

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The winter solstice begins with a mascarade - Zamora

In the Iberian Peninsula, from december 25th until the last days of February, masked characters take to the streets in a mascarade. Very old rituals...

by Claudio de la Cal in Spain on 26/12/2011

Society

Samhain Celebration in Athboy, Ireland

Celtic Festival of Samhain in Athboy, Ireland. A torchlit procession walks to the ancient ring fort of Tlagta on the Hill of Ward to watch a pagan...

by shane cowley in Ireland on 31/10/2010

After three years and 100 million U.S. dollars, the Israel Museum, founded in 1965, is about to pull the wraps off a near-total renovation. Jerusalem, Israel. 22/07/2010

Arts & Entertainment

Israel Pulls The Wraps Off Major Museum Facelift

After three years and 100 million U.S. dollars, the Israel Museum, founded in 1965, is about to pull the wraps off a near-total renovation. Jerusalem...

by Dave Bender in Israel on 22/07/2010

Latest News

Orthodox Jewish children visit the Wester Wall - Jerusalem
The Western Wall, Wailing Wall or Kotel is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. It is a remnant of the ancient wall that surrounded ...
Harvest Festival celebrates Saint Anthony - Sardinia
Traditional festival in honor of Saint Anthony. Traditional masks, Boes and Merdules parade while citizens start a great fire as an expiatory rite in favor of the new harvest year. Otta...
The winter solstice begins with a mascarade - Zamora
In the Iberian Peninsula, from december 25th until the last days of February, masked characters take to the streets in a mascarade. Very old rituals are acted out to mark the winter sol...
Discovery challenges viewpoint on construction of Western Wall
Coins dated 17/18 CE were discovered beneath the Western Wall of Temple Mount, providing scientific confirmation that the Western Wall and Robinson’s Arch construction were not complete...
Ancient dance festival winds up after eight days - Nepal
Kartik Naach, the longest ancient dance festival of Nepal and possibly the longest in the world, comprising a ritual dance drama staged in the open air and performed annually, concluded...
Kartik Naach - The longest ancient dance festival of Nepal
Kartik Naach, The longest ancient dance festival of Nepal and possibly the longest in the world. It is an annual ritual dance drama staged in the open air and performed every year durin...
Mercado Jamaica Market Offerings for Day of the Dead - Mexico City
Mercado Jamaica market had a large array of flowers and different arrangements on sale for traditional offerings as people prepared to pay their respects to departed relatives and frien...
Here comes the Chhath festival - Kathmandu
The Chhath festival is an ancient Hindu celebration dedicated to the Sun God. It ends on the fourth day of celebrations early in the morning with the fast-observers and others offering...
Kapparot for penance and purification - Jerusalem
In spite of protest from animal welfare organisations and even some parts of the Haredi community, "Shochet" Deutsch, preserves the ancient ritual of "Kapparot" just...
Fire Ceremony at the Japanese Garden - Buenos Aires
A traditional fire ceremony took place at the Japanese Garden in the Palermo district of the city. The ritual dates back to 1500 BC and is one of the most important events of the year i...
National park tribes of the Omo Valley - Ethiopia
Modernization efforts in Ethiopia jeopardizes the lives of the tribes that live along the Omo Valley and Omo National Park.
The ancient Vattienti ritual - Affirmation of one peoples identity
A visual anthropology reportage on the millenary ritual of Vattienti, Italian flagellants that beat their legs on the eve of Easter day, in the small town of Nocera Terinese in the Cala...
Peace Prayers of the Cold Desert in the Nepal Himalayas
Lo-Manthang’s peace ritual carries on a grand tradition. Mustang within this tiny Himalayan country is still a kingdom here in the arid trans-Himalayan district on the Tibetan plateau, ...
Megalithic Observatory Kokino
Megalithic Observatory Kokino spreads on both platforms each of them possessing own typical contents. Observatory length is around 90 metres and its width is around 50 metres.
121 Hindu priests perform 14,000 recitations of Sri Rudram in 11 days
In an unusual ritual, 121 Brahmins recite “Sri Rudram,” a prime section of the Yajur Veda, 11 times a day over 11 consecutive days, concurrently with ‘yagna’ (fire worship) and chanting...
Devotees on their way to Maa Kamakhya Temple ahead of Ambuba
Sadhus, devotees, on their way to Maa Kamakhya Temple ahead of Ambubachi Mela. The annual three-days festival of Ambubachi Mela is the most important celebration at the temple. Guwahati...
Ancient Celtic Fertility Festival Blazes into Life in Edinburgh
Ancient Celtic fertility rites and the traditional start of summer are celebrated by 300 performers in Edinburgh in a spectacle of ritualistic procession, fire, and symbolic dance.
Transgenders mourn death of Lord Aravan
After a night of marriage to the god Aravan, who was sacrificially killed the next morning, transgenders re-enact grief of widowed Mohini, incarnation of Lord Krishna, bringing alive an...
Hindus celebrate Khat Jatra and try to break the temple gates
The very important ancient festival of Kathmandu, Khat Jatra, when local devotees of Naxal try to break the main gate of Pashupati Nath, the holiest site for Hindus. This is the only n...
Jaffna Music Festival promoting reconciliation through music and drama
The Jaffna Music Festival 2011 was declared opened on the 25th of March and performers visitors from around Sri Lanka travelled to Jaffna. The project was funded by the Royal Norwegian ...