In this picture taken on August 1, 2022, a priest performs a ritual on a newly purchased car to seek blessings from the deities for safety outside a temple in Bangalore. (Photo by Sebastien Berger/AFP Photo)

Merit: A Night at Deadvlei. The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadveli. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the milky way and magellanic clouds. Deadveli means “dead marsh. The camelthorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old, but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry. (Photo and caption by Beth McCarley/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Chinese-American actress Bai Ling is seen on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

American Fork High School's Haven Empey poses for photos on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, after being named Ms. Soccer 2019 by the Deseret News in Utah, US. (Photo by Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)

Two male African mantis Pseudempusa pinnapavonis (Peacock Mantis) show their colours in Igor's home studio in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Igor Siwanowicz/Barcroft Media)

Costumed guests arrive for the “Life Ball” charity event at the Rathaus city hall in Vienna, Austria, 10 June 2017. The 24th Life Ball is a charity fundraiser for HIV and Aids projects. (Photo by Christian Bruna/EPA/EFE)

A devoteetakes a holy dip in the River Ganges on Ganga Dussehra festival in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Hindus across the country celebrate Ganga Dussehra by worshiping the River Ganges, which is considered as the most sacred and the holiest river. (Photo by Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo)

Police officers check documents of a man in central Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 25, 2023. (Photo by Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo)