The Sanja Matsuri festival that heralds the arrival of summer in Tokyo has reached its climax with a procession of portable shrines known as "mikoshi" through the historic Asakusa district. People carrying three large shrines set out from Asakusa Shrine on Sunday, the final day of the three-day event.
They were headed in different directions --- west, south and east. One of the shrines was paraded along the Nakamise shopping street and passed through the iconic Kaminari-mon gate, accompanied by the energetic chants of local parishioners.
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The Sanja Matsuri festival that heralds the arrival of summer in Tokyo has reached its climax with a procession of portable shrines known as "mikoshi" through the historic Asakusa district. People carrying three large shrines set out from Asakusa Shrine on Sunday, the final day of the three-day event.
They were headed in different directions --- west, south and east. One of the shrines was paraded along the Nakamise shopping street and passed through the iconic Kaminari-mon gate, accompanied by the energetic chants of local parishioners.
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South Korea celebrated the centuries-old Lotus Lantern Festival, or Yeondeunghoe, on Saturday, drawing many participants and spectators to central Seoul's Jongno district.
Tens of thousands of people marched with nearly 100,000 handmade paper lanterns, with the unexpected highlight of the 2026 procession being four humanoid robot monks in traditional robes. Yeondeunghoe is a UNESCO-designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with a history tracing back over 1,200 years.
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South Korea celebrated the centuries-old Lotus Lantern Festival, or Yeondeunghoe, on Saturday, drawing many participants and spectators to central Seoul's Jongno district.
Tens of thousands of people marched with nearly 100,000 handmade paper lanterns, with the unexpected highlight of the 2026 procession being four humanoid robot monks in traditional robes. Yeondeunghoe is a UNESCO-designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with a history tracing back over 1,200 years.
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Nepal observed the 2570th Buddha Jayanti on Saturday, honoring the life and teachings of Lord Siddhartha Gautam. The festival was celebrated across Nepal and in Buddhist communities worldwide with prayers for global peace, non-violence and harmony.
Major Buddhist heritage sites including Lumbini, Swayambhu, and Bouddha, where monks and lamas held traditional rituals, chanting and special pujas. It was known that Buddhism devotees across Nepal celebrated Buddha Jayanti with deep reverence and devotion.
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Nepal observed the 2570th Buddha Jayanti on Saturday, honoring the life and teachings of Lord Siddhartha Gautam. The festival was celebrated across Nepal and in Buddhist communities worldwide with prayers for global peace, non-violence and harmony.
Major Buddhist heritage sites including Lumbini, Swayambhu, and Bouddha, where monks and lamas held traditional rituals, chanting and special pujas. It was known that Buddhism devotees across Nepal celebrated Buddha Jayanti with deep reverence and devotion.
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The sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha arrived in Ladakh, India on Wednesday for a historic public exposition scheduled from May 1 to May 14. The exposition was scheduled to take place in key locations across Ladakh and will offer devotees a unique opportunity to pay homage to the holy relics.
Until now, the relics had travelled abroad only for international exhibitions, making this the first large-scale public exposition of the relics in India itself. Besides, the two-week event was expected to transform Ladakh into a major center of Buddhist spiritual and cultural engagement.
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The sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha arrived in Ladakh, India on Wednesday for a historic public exposition scheduled from May 1 to May 14. The exposition was scheduled to take place in key locations across Ladakh and will offer devotees a unique opportunity to pay homage to the holy relics.
Until now, the relics had travelled abroad only for international exhibitions, making this the first large-scale public exposition of the relics in India itself. Besides, the two-week event was expected to transform Ladakh into a major center of Buddhist spiritual and cultural engagement.
mitv
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday attended an Orthodox Easter service amid an Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a ceasefire on April 9, more than a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the proposal. Both sides had agreed to observe it.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday attended an Orthodox Easter service amid an Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a ceasefire on April 9, more than a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the proposal. Both sides had agreed to observe it.
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Worshippers gather and perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. They perform Eid prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. This marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayer. Mecca is the holiest city in Islam.
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Worshippers gather and perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. They perform Eid prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. This marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayer. Mecca is the holiest city in Islam.
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Nepal is celebrating the Hindu festival of Chaitra Navratri, one of the most significant festivals dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine divine incarnations.
Devotees were seen visiting Goddess temples to offer prayers on the first day of the festival that will culminate with celebration of Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram, a revered Hindu diety. Chariot with goddess was being pulled by devotees who danced and sang to the tune of local music and playing of traditional instruments.
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Nepal is celebrating the Hindu festival of Chaitra Navratri, one of the most significant festivals dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine divine incarnations.
Devotees were seen visiting Goddess temples to offer prayers on the first day of the festival that will culminate with celebration of Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram, a revered Hindu diety. Chariot with goddess was being pulled by devotees who danced and sang to the tune of local music and playing of traditional instruments.
mitv
In Viet Nam, Yen Tu Spring Festival celebrated in the northern province of Quang Ninh on Thursday marking an important milestone following the July 2025 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage inscription of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes.
The festival sought to reaffirm the diverse tangible and intangible values of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, a distinctly Vietnamese tradition now more than 700 years old.The event also featured displays of the Tran Dynasty antiquities and rare Truc Lam Buddhism documents, along with culinary fair boasting over 100 booths offering handicrafts, bronze and wooden ritual items, and local specialities.
mitv
In Viet Nam, Yen Tu Spring Festival celebrated in the northern province of Quang Ninh on Thursday marking an important milestone following the July 2025 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage inscription of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes.
The festival sought to reaffirm the diverse tangible and intangible values of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, a distinctly Vietnamese tradition now more than 700 years old.The event also featured displays of the Tran Dynasty antiquities and rare Truc Lam Buddhism documents, along with culinary fair boasting over 100 booths offering handicrafts, bronze and wooden ritual items, and local specialities.
mitv
Cambodian monks chanted blessings and scattered flowers Friday over 74 cultural artefacts returned to the country after being plundered by a notorious British antiques smuggler. Scholar Douglas Latchford -- once regarded as a key authority on Cambodian antiquities -- was charged by prosecutors in New York in 2019 with smuggling looted Cambodian relics to sell on the international black market.
Cambodia's culture ministry said the repatriation from Britain of the relics, some dating back more than around 1,000 years, was sealed in a deal with the estate of Latchford -- who died in Bangkok in 2020.
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Cambodian monks chanted blessings and scattered flowers Friday over 74 cultural artefacts returned to the country after being plundered by a notorious British antiques smuggler. Scholar Douglas Latchford -- once regarded as a key authority on Cambodian antiquities -- was charged by prosecutors in New York in 2019 with smuggling looted Cambodian relics to sell on the international black market.
Cambodia's culture ministry said the repatriation from Britain of the relics, some dating back more than around 1,000 years, was sealed in a deal with the estate of Latchford -- who died in Bangkok in 2020.
mitv
Worshippers queue at the Qalandia Israeli checkpoint as they wait to cross into Jerusalem to perform the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel announced that it will cap the number of Palestinian worshippers from the occupied West Bank attending weekly Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem at 10,000 during the holy month of Ramadan, which began Wednesday.
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Worshippers queue at the Qalandia Israeli checkpoint as they wait to cross into Jerusalem to perform the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel announced that it will cap the number of Palestinian worshippers from the occupied West Bank attending weekly Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem at 10,000 during the holy month of Ramadan, which began Wednesday.
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