Rites Around the World

Syrian refugees and local residents perform night prayers during the holy month of Ramadan before a protest in front of the Syrian Embassy in Amman July 26, 2012. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji

Muslims take group breakfast at Sheikh Bashir mosque at Omdurman locality, during the holy month of Ramadan, July 26, 2012.

Students attend a Koran lesson after breakfast at Sheikh Bashir mosque at Omdurman locality, during the holy month of Ramadan, July 26, 2012

A boy dressed as Lord Krishna, a Hindu deity, is pictured during a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A girl, dressed up as a holy cow, is offered milk during a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A boy, dressed up as the Hindu deity Hanuman, participates in a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A boy, dressed up as a holy man, is offered milk during a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A woman carries a child as she begs for money during a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A boy dressed as a holy cow participates in a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A masked man participates in a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A boy dressed as Lord Krishna, a Hindu deity, blows on a flute as he participates in a parade to mark the Gaijatra Festival, also known as the festival of cows, in Kathmandu August 3, 2012.

A Muslim man performs ablution from the water of a fountain before performing prayers inside Kashmir's more than 600-year-old Jamia Masjid during the holy month of Ramadan in Srinagar August 3, 2012.

Men prepare for Iftar, the evening meal for breaking fast, during the holy month of Ramadan at the Memon mosque in Karachi August 3, 2012.

A man reads the Koran at Jamia Ashrafia mosque during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Peshawar July 29, 2012.

Palestinian women read the Koran on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan July 27, 2012.

An Indian Muslim women sits inside the Jama (Grand) mosque on the first Friday of
Ramadan in New Delhi, India, Friday, July 27, 2012.

A Palestinian boy stands near the reflection of a shrine on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan July 27, 2012.

Palestinian women carry prayer mats in front of the Dome of the Rock on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan July 27, 2012.

Men offer Friday prayer during the holy month of Ramadan at the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore
July 27, 2012.

Kashmiri Muslim men raise arms while praying on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in Srinagar July 27, 2012.

The Moroccan faithful pray on the esplanade of the Hassan II mosque during the Tarawih prayers, as part of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Casablanca July 27, 2012.

A man reads a Koran in a mosque during the holy month of Ramadan in Benghazi
July 27, 2012.

Muslims pray after group breakfast at Sheikh Bashir mosque at Omdurman locality,
during the holy month of Ramadan, July 26, 2012.

Students of the Khalwa Guran school attend a lesson around a fire after breakfast at Sheikh Bashir mosque at Omdurman locality, during the holy month of Ramadan, July 26, 2012.

A masked devotee takes part in a parade commemorating the Neku Jatra-Mataya festival, the festival of lights, in Lalitpur, Nepal, August 4, 2012.