
Artists dressed as Lord Krishna and saints being showered with flower petals as part of Holi celebrations, at Raman Reti in Mathura district.
Sikh pilgrims shower flower petals on a portrait of Guru Teg Bahadur, before leaving for Dera Baba Nanak Gurudwara to celebrate forthcoming 400th birth anniversary of the Sikhism Guru, in Amritsar.
An artist performs at a play 'Ram Vijay' during the Chamaria Satra Mahotsav at Boko in Kamrup district.
Devotees hold a long piece of cloth as they perform 'Chunri Manorath' on the banks of Yamuna river, at Vrindavan in Mathura district.
People watch a castle-shape wooden construction burning as part of celebrations at the Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) festival at the Nikola-Lenivets art park in Nikola-Lenivets village, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south-west of Moscow, Russia. Maslenitsa is an Orthodox Christian holiday celebrated in the last week before the Orthodox Lent.
Men participate in a mass fight competition during Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) holiday celebrations at the Izmailovsky Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Maslenitsa is an Orthodox Christian holiday celebrated in the last week before the Orthodox Lent. The festivities feature baking traditional pancakes, sleigh rides, sparring between groups of men and, finally burning the effigy of Maslenitsa.
Naga sadhus take part in a religious procession on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival in Mirzapur.
Devotees stand in a queue to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the occasion of 'Maha Shivaratri', at Jharkhand Mahadev Temple in Jaipur.
Devotees wait in queues to offer prayer at Kashi Vishwanath temple on the occasion of 'Maha Shivaratri' in Varanasi.
Devotees perform 'Abhishekam' to Lord Shiva on the occasion of 'Maha Shivaratri' festival, at Shiva temple in Ahmedabad.
Ayyavazhi devotees participate in a procession to mark Ayya Vaikunda Avataram or Vaikunda Jayanti, at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district.
Girls are dressed in costumes for Purim, in the Crown Heights neighborhood of New York. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther.
Flowers being showered on the devotees as they gather to take holy dip in the River Ganga at Sangam on the occasion of 'Magh Purnima’ festival during ongoing 'Magh Mela', in Prayagraj.
Devotees gather to take holy dip in the River Ganga at Sangam on the occasion of 'Magh Purnima’ festival during ongoing 'Magh Mela', in Prayagraj
A Kyrgyz man rides a horse holding a golden eagle for an eagle hunt during the hunting festival "Salburun" in Tuura-Suu, a small village nestled among the mountains, about 250 km. (156 miles) south-east of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Agricultural Minister of Assam and President of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Atul Bora dances during the celebrations of 'Ali Aye Lrigang' festival in Bokakhat.
Misings tribal people perform a ritual to celebrate the Ali-Aye-Ligang festival in Nagaon district of Assam.
Devotees celebrate Basant Panchami festival at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in New Delhi.
Devotees celebrate Basant Panchami festival at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in New Delhi.
Devotees celebrate Basant Panchami festival at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in New Delhi.
Devotees celebrate Basant Panchami festival at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in New Delhi.
Priests throw 'gulal' powder on devotees at Bankey Bihari temple on the occasion of Basant Panchmi festival that marks the beginning of the Holi celebrations in Braj region, at Vrindavn, in Mathura.
A Nepalese devotee writes her name on a Saraswati temple, with the belief that writing on the wall of a Saraswati temple on this day imparts knowledge, during Shri Panchami festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. Shri Panchami, or Saraswati Puja, is a day for students to worship Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning. Young children are also given their first reading and writing lesson on this day.
Commandoes stand guard at Sangam as part of security arrangements on the occasion of 'Basant Panchami' festival during ongoing 'Magh Mela', in Prayagraj.
Hindu devotees offer prayers after taking holy dip in the River Ganga at Sangam on the occasion of 'Basant Panchami' festival during ongoing 'Magh Mela', in Prayagraj.
Devotees wait in queue to perform worship at Vindhyavasini temple on the occasion of Basant Panchami festival, in Mirzapur district.
Farmers perform 'puja' on the occasion of Basant Panchami during their agitation over new farm laws, at Ghazipur border, in New Delhi.
Devotees gather to take holy dip in the River Ganga at Sangam on the occasion of 'Basant Panchami' festival during ongoing 'Magh Mela', in Prayagraj.
A view of tents at Sangam area on the eve of the Basant Panchami festival during the ongoing Magh Mela in Prayagraj
Students wearing traditional dresses celebrate the Basant Panchmi festival in a mustard field, in Patiala.
Tribal community women perform during the ongoing snow festival at Gondhla village in Lahaul-Spiti.
Devotees gather at Dashashwamedh Ghat to take a holy dip in Ganga river on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya', in Varanasi.
Devotees arrive at Sangam on the eve of 'Mauni Amavasya' festival during the ongoing 'Magh Mela' in Prayagraj.
Pilgrims take holy dip at Sangam confluence of three rivers, the Ganga the Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of 'Mauni Amawashya' festival during Magh Mela in Prayagraj.
Muslims raise their hands and pray as the head priest, unseen, displays a relic believed to be a hair from the beard of the Prophet Mohammad during special prayers on the death anniversary of Abu Bakr Siddiq, the first Caliph of Islam, at Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar.
A devotee with his body pierced with pots takes part in a procession in connection with the Thaipusam festival, in Visakhapatanam.
Devotees take part in a procession during Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple's Thai Festival Therottam, in Kanyakumari district.
Nepalese Hindu devotees offer prayers along the banks of the Hanumante river in Bhaktapur, Nepal. During the festival, devotees recite holy scriptures dedicated to Hindu goddess Swasthani and Lord Shiva. Unmarried women pray to get a good husband while those married pray for the longevity of their husbands by observing a month-long fast.
A woman belonging to Tiwa community exchanges goods in the form of barter system during 'Udpur' festival near Dharamtul in Morigaon District.
Ethiopians priests at their church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the Timkat festival an Orthodox Christian occasion to mark the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. The three day festivities of Timkat with singing dancing and processions is one of the most important festivals on the Ethiopian calendar, celebrated across the country.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy participates in 'Kamadhenu Gopuja' on the occassion of Kanuma festival, at Narsaraopeta in Guntur district.
Buffalos lock horns during a traditional buffalo fight as part of Magh Bihu festival, at Ahatguri in Morigaon District of Assam.
People take part in a cattle-worship to celebrate 'Mattu Pongal' at Suchindum Thanumalaya temple in Kanyakumari district.
Malayali community people offer prayers at an Ayyappa temple on the occasion of Makaravilakku festival, in Bhopal.
BJP National President JP Nadda arrives to participate in Pongal festivities, ahead of State assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, in Chennai.
BJP National President JP Nadda arrives to participate in Pongal festivities, ahead of State assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, in Chennai.
People watch a traditional buffalo fight held as part of festivities to mark Magh Bihu, at Gumutha Gaon in Nagaon district.
Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, in Mumbai.
Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the world's largest slums, in Mumbai.
Tamil women offer prayers as they cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the world's largest slums, in Mumbai. This Hindu celebration, held according to the solar calendar, marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement and is considered to be auspicious.
Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the world's largest slums, in Mumbai.
Traditional Assamese 'Meji', a house made of straw, being burnt during the Magh Bihu celebrations, at Ganeshguri in Guwahati.
A knife tied on the leg of a cock during 'Bhogi' festival celebration, in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
Devotees attend 'Akshata Sohala' ceremony near Siddheshwar Temple during the annual 'Gadda Yatra' in Solapur.
Teachers and students of Shri Guru Nanak Girls Degree college celebrate Lohri festival, in Lucknow.
People gather around a bonfire during the 'Bhogi' festival celebrations, in Visakhapatnam.
Volunteers play soccer in a beach during 'Gangasagar Mela', at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are anticipating less number of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage that coincides with the Makar Sankranti festival on Jan. 14.
Pilgrims take holy dips in the Ganga river in the backdrop of a rising sun during 'Gangasagar Mela', at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are anticipating less number of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage that coincides with the Makar Sankranti festival on Jan. 14.
Pilgrims arrive to take holy dips in the Ganga river during 'Gangasagar Mela', at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are anticipating less number of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage that coincides with the Makar Sankranti festival on Jan. 14.
Pilgrims take holy dips in the Ganga river during 'Gangasagar Mela', at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are anticipating less number of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage that coincides with the Makar Sankranti festival on Jan. 14.
ISKCON followers take part in religious procession during the annual ‘Magh Mela’ at Sangam, in Prayagraj.
Pilgrims prepare food outside their makeshift tent during Gangasagar Mela at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district. Authorities are anticipating less number of pilgrims at the Makarsankranti festival on Jan. 14 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel dance as they celebrate the Lohri festival at a camp in Jammu.
Students, wearing traditional Punjabi dresses, fly kites to celebrate the Lohri festival, in Amritsar.
Students, wearing traditional Punjabi dresses, offer groundnuts and sweets as part of a ritual to celebrate the Lohri festival, in Amritsar.
Bharatiya Janata Party Jammu President Ravinder Raina along with party leaders and workers celebrates 'Lohri' at party office in Jammu.
Congress MP Preneet Kaur distributes sweets and blankets among people during 'Lohri' festival celebrations, in Patiala.
Tribal villagers take part in a community fishing as part of celebrations for the Assamese festival of Magh Bihu at a lake in Morigaon district.
Women participate in the 'Samathuva Pongal' celebrations, organized by DMK youth wing, at Anbagam in Chennai.
Thousands of Catholic devotees line up as they celebrate the feast day of the Black Nazarene at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in downtown Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of church workers and police were spread around the area to maintain order and enforce strict social distancing health protocols. The annual procession has been cancelled amid the threat of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in one of Asia's biggest religious events.
People dressed as devils dance in La Diablada Pillarena amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Pillaro, Ecuador. Performers took to the streets of this small city in the center of the country with only 40 characters dancing in a closed place and without an audience.
Dozens of citizens of the mountain town of Kalofer, in central Bulgaria, clad in traditional dresses stand in the icy Tundzha River, some waving national flags to recover a crucifix cast by a priest in an old ritual marking the feast of Epiphany. The legend goes that the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year.
Devotees take part in 'Margazhi' festival at Sthanumalayan Temple, Suchindram in Kanyakumari district.
Pope Francis, center, delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing inside the blessing hall of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican.
Russian emergency rescue workers dressed as Ded Morozes (Santa Claus, or Father Frost) greets children as they scale the wall of a children hospital to mark the upcoming New Year celebrations, Russia. Russia, which has so far registered more than 2.9 million confirmed cases of the virus and over 52,000 deaths in the pandemic, has been swept by a rapid resurgence of the outbreak this fall, with numbers of infections and deaths significantly exceeding those reported in the spring. Usually, performers come into children's rooms, but this year because of the virus-related restrictions, the artists had to perform outside of the hospital at a significant distance.
The Christmas tree in the lights is seen behind the St.Sofia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine. Despite of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, a lot of Ukrainians enjoy outdoor Christmas events, often ignoring protective measures.
A man dressed as Santa Claus distributes sweets among children during Christmas celebration, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Srinagar.
Hotel staff members click photographs with a boy dressed as Santa Claus on the occasion of Christmas, in Amritsar.
Devotees lights candles to offer prayers on the occasion of Chirstmas, at Cathedral Church in Lucknow.
Devotees light candles at Epiphany Church on the occasion of Christmas festival, at Civil Lines in Gurugram.
A large number of people gather at Park Street to celebrate Christmas, amid coronavirus pandemic,in Kolkata.
An idol of Lord Parthasarathy being carried by devotees on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, at Sri Parthasarathy temple, in Chennai.
City streets decorated with colourful light for the upcoming Christmas festival, in Kolkata.