Religious festivals of the world

In a world of so many religious holidays. Every religion has its own rituals, traditions and ceremonies, accompanied by grandiose festivities.






Ashura holiday symbolizes the Shiite Muslims suffering Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein, who was killed in battle in Karbala, Iraq, in 680 BC This is a national holiday in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon ... Photo: Afghan Shiites are engaged in self-flagellation with chains and blades during Ashura December 27, 2009. (UPI / Hossein Fatemi)



Good Friday symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death. In the photo: Christians raise a crucifix with Salvador blockages (center) in the role of Jesus Christ during the ritual "way of the cross" in Chicago, April 2, 2010. On an annual ritual on Good Friday attracts thousands of people to go the distance in 2, 4 km in the heart of the Mexican-American community in Chicago Pilsen. (UPI / Brian Kersey)



Vaisakha - Sikh celebration, symbolizing the foundation of the Order of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699 the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Falls to mid-April of the Gregorian calendar, marks the beginning of Vaisakha harvest season. In the picture: one of the many moving platforms during the parade Vaisakha April 14, 2007. (UPI Photo / Heinz Ruckemann)



Kumbh Mela Festival - held every three years in four different cities in India (thus, in every town every 12 years). Festival lasts 42 days and attracts millions of people. People believe that a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges, they wash away their sins. Photo: Indian believers bathe in the Ganges River at the festival Kumbh Mela in Haridwar April 14, 2010.



Every Muslim (if he is physically able to do it) must make in his life Haj pilgrimage at least once. The annual Haj pilgrimage is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world - it involves up to two million Muslims. Photo: Hassan Saudi officer looks at Muslims who pray in the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad in the Great Mosque in Mecca Dec. 4, 2008. (UPI Photo / Mohammad Kheirkhah)

Purim - the holiday in honor of the liberation of the Jewish people from the oppression of the Persian Empire. On Purim made publicly read the book of Esther, to give food and drink and give alms to the poor. In the photo: small ultra-Orthodox in costumes celebrating Purim in Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem, March 5, 2007. (UPI Photo / Debbie Hilll)



Holi - the spring festival of Hindus and Sikhs, which is celebrated in countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Indians thrown into each other with colored powder in Banke Bihari temple in Mathura March 10, 2009. (UPI Photo / Mohammad Kheirkhah)



Indian boy in the paint after celebrating festival of colors in New Delhi March 11, 2009. (UPI Photo / Mohammad Kheirkhah)



Baptism - the Christian holiday, which marks the transition of the Lord in human form in the body of Jesus Christ. Photo: Orthodox Christians dip into the water from the Jordan River January 18, 2010. Hundreds of Orthodox Christians gathered for a religious festival near the town of Jericho, where, according to tradition, John the Evangelist baptized Jesus Christ. (UPI / Debbie Hill)



Ancient ritual Kaparot always executed before the Jewish day of atonement on Yom Kippur. In the photo: the ultra-Jew carries the chicken over the child's head with prayers in Jerusalem, October 7, 2008. (UPI Photo / Debbie Hill)



Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. In the photo: senior leader Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas addresses the audience at the mass prayers in Gaza September 30, 2008. (UPI Photo / Ismael Mohamad)



Iranian women in traditional costumes gathered around a fire at a religious ceremony Sadegh west of the capital Tehran January 30, 2010. Sadeh in Persian means "hundreds" of that has to do with a hundred days and nights remaining before the start of the Persian New Year, which is celebrated on the first day of spring. (UPI / Maryam Rahmanian)



Christmas. A Palestinian boy lights a candle in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, where, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem December 20, 2009. (UPI / Debbie Hill)



Palm Sunday - Christian holiday always falls on a Sunday before Easter. Believers celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In the photo: Christians are palm and olive branches on the procession in honor of Palm Sunday in Jerusalem on 28 March 2010. (UPI / Debbie Hill)



Rosh Hashanah is considered the eve of the Jewish New Year and falls on the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. In the photo: the ultra-Orthodox pray at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem September 22, 2006. (UPI Photo / Debbie Hill)



Easter - Christian celebration, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Photo: Russian Orthodox priest lights Easter cakes and eggs in the Peter and Paul Church in Moscow April 3, 2010. (UPI Photo / Alex Natin)



World Youth Day - the event of the Catholic Church, aimed at young people and organized by Pope John Paul II in 1986. Photo: Pope John Paul II waving to the crowd out of the car on the square in Toronto July 25, 2002. The event was attended by up to 300,000 pilgrims. (Cc / cc / Christine Chew UPI)