Rites Around the World

Indian Muslims wave green Islamic flags as they rid on a truck in procession during
Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi or the birthday of Prophet Mohammed while passing the Jama Masjid
in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012.

An Indian Muslim youth displays his skill by blowing a ball of fire as others look on during a procession
to celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi or birthday of Prophet Mohammed in Ahmedabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012.

Kashmiri Muslim women offer prayers at the Hazratbal shrine a day after Eid-e-Milad or birthday
of Prophet Mohammed, in Srinagar, India, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

A Kashmiri Muslim woman offers prayers as a head priest displays a relic of Prophet Mohammed at the Hazratbal shrine a day after Eid-e-Milad or birthday of Prophet Mohammed birthday, in Srinagar, India, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

Kashmiri Muslim devotees raise thier hands for prayers as a head priest displays a relic
of Prophet Mohammed at the Hazratbal shrine a day after Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi or birthday
of Prophet Mohammed, in Srinagar, India, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

A Kashmiri Muslim devotee raises his hands for prayers as a head priest displays a relic of Prophet Mohammed at the Hazratbal shrine a day after Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, or birthday of Prophet Mohammed, in Srinagar, India, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

Kashmiri Muslim devotees raise thier hands for prayers as a head priest displays a relic of Prophet Mohammed at the Hazratbal shrine a day after Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, or birthday of Prophet Mohammed, in Srinagar, India, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

Pakistani Muslims walk on a street decorated with festive lights on the eve of Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Thousands of Pakistani Muslims take part in a procession to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi,
marking the birth anniversary of the Islam's Prophet Mohammed, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012
in Lahore, Pakistan.

A member of a Lebanese Sufi Muslim group who had pierced his waist with a skewer takes part in a ritual to commemorate the birth of Prophet Mohammed at the port city of Sidon, southern Lebanon, February 4, 2012.

People pray by the coffin of a member of the Free Syrian Army, who was killed by
"Al Chabiha", armed civilians loyal to Syria's President Bashar Al Assad, during a
funeral near the northern city of Idlib February 29, 2012.

Monks gather to pray at the Labrang monastery prior Tibetan New Year in Xiahe county,
Gansu Province February 21, 2012.

South Koreans release paper lanterns to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year,
in Yongin, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, with tika on his forehead at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu February 20, 2012.

Monks pray during a moment of silence at 3:19 p.m. (0619 GMT) during a ceremony at an area damaged by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, March 11, 2012, to mark the first anniversary when the tsunami hit the north coast of Japan during the disaster that killed thousands and set off a nuclear crisis.

An Iranian woman holds a firecracker in Tehran during the Wednesday Fire ritual, or Chaharshanbeh Soori, held on the last Wednesday eve before the Spring holiday of Noruz.

During the Lathmar Holi festival at the Nandji Temple in Nandgaon, India

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama takes part in a 1912 Cherry Blossom tree planting re-enactment ceremony with Yoriko Fujisaki (2nd R) near the Tidal Basin and along the Potomac River March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz and workers remove notes from the cracks of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City March 28, 2012. Rabbi Rabinovitz headed a team on Wednesday that cleaned out the cracks and made room for more paper notes that Jews believe are notes to God, ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover which begins on April 6.

The royal standard-draped casket of King George Tupou V is conveyed by the bearer party from the Royal Palace on a black and gold catafalque during the king's funeral procession through the capital Nuku'alofa, Tonga on March 27, 2012.

School children bow their heads in respect as the black and gold catafalque carrying the casket of King George Tupou V is conveyed by the bearer party from the Royal Palace to Mala'ekula (The Royal Tombs) during the king's funeral procession through the capital Nuku'alofa on March 27, 2012.

The casket of King George Tupou V at Mala'ekula (The Royal Tombs)
is removed by the bearer party from black and gold catafalque for entombment
in the capital Nuku'alofa on March 27, 2012.

School children bow their heads in respect as the black and gold catafalque carrying the casket of King George Tupou V is conveyed by the bearer party from the Royal Palace to Mala'ekula (The Royal Tombs) during the king's funeral procession through the capital Nuku'alofa on March 27, 2012.

School girls line the pathway to the Royal Tomb during the State Funeral held for King George
Tupou V at Mala'ekula on March 27, 2012, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

Mourners arrive for the State Funeral held for King George Tupou V at Mala'ekula
on March 27, 2012, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.