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2012 Year of the Dragon celebrations - Rome

Chinese New Year celebrations at the Piazza del Popolo, with a finale containing fireworks and thousands of spectators. Rome, Italy. 14th January 2012

by Debra M Josephson in Italy on 14/01/2012

Society

The Hindu ritual Theyyam is performed - Trivadrum

In connection with the Grand Kerala shopping festival, Theyyam is performed. Theyyam is a corrupt form of Devam or God. People of these districts...

by madhu soodanan in India on 03/01/2012

Arts & Entertainment

Annual Bathing Ceremony of Seto Macchendranath

An idol of the Hindu god Seto Macchendranath was bathed with milk and water in an annual ceremony for the deity at Janabahal in Kathmandu on New Year...

by Narayan Maharjan in Nepal on 01/01/2012

BREAKING NEWS

14/01/2012 - 2012 Year of the Dragon celebrations - Rome - Italy - Chinese New Year celebrations at the...
03/01/2012 - The Hindu ritual Theyyam is performed - Trivadrum - India - In connection with the Grand Kerala...
01/01/2012 - Annual Bathing Ceremony of Seto Macchendranath - Nepal - An idol of the Hindu god Seto...
06/12/2011 - Ashura procession and Muharram in Bangalore - India - Thousands of Shia muslims in Bangalore...
03/12/2011 - Nepalese girls wed fruit during Bael Bibaha traditional ceremony - Nepal - Girls from Newar community wearing...
09/11/2011 - Ancient dance festival winds up after eight days - Nepal - Nepal - Kartik Naach, the longest ancient dance...
06/11/2011 - Bangladeshis lead cattle home for Eid Ul Adha festival - Bangladesh - People return home with cattle to...
12/10/2011 - Ritual Animal Sacrifice to Goddess Kali - Nepal - Ritual animal sacrifices were made as...
11/10/2011 - Prabarana Purnima celebrations in Buddhist community - Bangladesh - Pavarana Purnima is a Buddhist ritual...
07/10/2011 - Kaparot ritual in Benie-Brak - Israel - Orthodox jews performinig the Kaparot...

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 ...
Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur
Thousands of people participated in the annual Hindu thanksgiving festival in which devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and penance, held in the c...
Women Dry Their Sarees in Rameswaram
Hindu women dry their sarees in Rameswaram after bathing in the sea. Rameswaram. 21st January 2012
Year of the Dragon parade around London's West End
A Chinese New Year's parade held in the West End went through Charing Cross Road and ended in Rupert Street. A replica of the Wishing Tree was present on the two-mile long parade r...
Year of the Dragon parade around London's West-end
New Year's Parade around the West-end went through Charing Cross Road and ended in Rupert Street. There was a replica of the Wishing Tree on the two-mile long parade route. London...
Prayers and Rituals for the Year of the Dragon
The first 6 days of the Chinese lunar new year, traditional temples are packed with worshipers who come to ask for good fortune, receive blessings, make offerings and pray for a prosper...
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 cleaning of the Hong San Ko Tee shrine
People at the Tridarma pagoda at the Hong San Ko Tee shrine clean a statue of god. This ritual performed once a year to welcome the Lunar holiday. Surabaya, east Java, Indonesia. 19th J...
Elephant blessings at a Hindu Temple
A temple elephant gives blessings to pilgrims at Manakula Vinayagar Temple in the former French colonial town of Pondicherry. India. 6th August 2011
Devotees celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ in Jericho
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos takes part in a ceremony at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River, near the West Bank ...
Ethiopians march for equality in Israel - Jerusalem
Thousands of Ethiopians and supporters join Mulet Hararo, who set out on a 70Km 3-day trek to Jerusalem from his home in Kiryat Malachi, at the Wohl Rose Garden opposite the Knesset pro...
2012 Year of the Dragon celebrations - Rome
Chinese New Year celebrations at the Piazza del Popolo, with a finale containing fireworks and thousands of spectators. Rome, Italy. 14th January 2012
Survakari Pagan ritual celebrations - Bulgaria
Masked dancers, wearing bells and carrying torches, dance around bonfires to bring luck and drive away evil spirits during Kukeri, or Survakari, pagan rituals performed in villages betw...
Thousands of devotees participate in mass frenzied dancing at Erumeli
Thousands of devotees of Lord Ayyappa gathered to participate and witness the famous Petta Thullal dancing performed by Ambalapuzha and Aalangat Groups at Erumeli. Erumeli, India. 12th ...
The Santeria Religion in Cuba
Santeria (Way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. Santeria is a syncretic religion that grew ou...
Day out on Dublar Char, Sundarban, Bangladesh
Dublar Char is an island famous for its yearly ritual “Rash Mela” (fair) which started 200 years ago. 15th December 2011
The 2012 annual Sinulog festival
Elementary and High School students from Cebu city danced the Sinulog, in downtown Cebu City. The Mardi Gras or the Grand Parade started on the Sinulog Feast Day which is celebrated eve...
His Holiness the Dalai Lama leads preliminary Kalachakra Initiation
His Holiness the Dalai Lama leads the preliminary Kalachakra Initiation, the student preparation, as part of the traditional Kalachakra ritual which lasts several days. Bodh Gaya, India...
Venerable Beop Jeong's Funeral - South Korea
The funeral was held for Venerable Beop Jeong, one of the most renowned Zen Buddhist monks, who had his writings published for more than thirty years. Over 15,000 people attended his cr...
Eastern Christian communities prepare for Christmas - Bethlehem
Eastern Christian communities are preparing to celebrate Christmas according to the Eastern calendar, which falls on the 6th of January. Various parades and rituals were performed ahead...