Muslims from around the world have converged on a sacred hill near Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the holiest day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of mercy, is often the most memorable for pilgrims, who stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet, asking God for mercy, … Read more
The dramatic surroundings of Hingol National Park in Balochistan province are the setting for Pakistan’s largest Hindu celebration, Hinglaj Yatra, which started on Friday and ends on Sunday. Muslim-majority Pakistan is home to 4.4 million Hindus, just 2.14 percent of the population, and the ancient cave temple of Hinglaj Mata is one of the few … Read more
Baisakhi is an ancient festival symbolising the new harvest season and the beginning of the solar new year. In gurdwaras, or Sikh temples, people participate in congregational singing, eat communal meals and reflect on the tenets of their faith that revolve around “seva,” or serving fellow human beings and seeking to build a just society … Read more
Muslims around the world have celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, with prayer, reunions with family and friends, new clothes and sweet treats. But the celebrations on Wednesday were overshadowed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s threatened ground offensive in the southernmost … Read more
Hindus in Malaysia have marked the festival of Thaipusam, one of the most important in their religious calendar, displaying their devotion in a mass procession with some piercing their bodies with hooks and skewers. Authorities said they were expecting as many as two million people – devotees and tourists – at the Batu Caves temple … Read more