A performer dressed as the Hindu Godess Kali takes part in a religious procession on the occasion of the Hindu festival of “Maha Shivaratri” in Pushkar on March 8, 2024. (Photo by Himanshu Sharma/AFP Photo)

A businesswoman Maha Shalaby paints ostrich eggs in Cairo, Egypt November 27, 2016. (Photo by Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

A Hindu sadhu (holy man) smears coloured paste onto his face ahead of the forthcoming Hindu festival of “Maha Shivaratri” at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu on February 11, 2018. Hindus mark the “Maha Shivratri” festival by offering special prayers and fasting, with sadhus arriving at Pashupatinath to take part in the event, which takes place on February 13. (Photo by Prakash Mathema/AFP Photo)

A Sadhu, Hindu holy person, prepares himself by smearing ashes on his body during the Maha Shivaratri festival at the Pashupati Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, 11 March 2021. The Maha Shivratri festival, which is celebrated on 11 March, sees Hindu devotees, from across the country and neighboring India, gather to celebrate the birthday of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of creation and destruction, by offering special prayers and fasting. (Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA/EFE)

A man dressed as Hindu Lord Shiva performs during a religious procession ahead of the Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri, in Jammu February 23, 2017. (Photo by Mukesh Gupta/Reuters)

Thai officials arrive for morning alms as part of celebrations for the 68th birthday of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindrade​bayavarangkun, at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, Thailand, 28 July 2020. (Photo by Diego Azubel/EPA/EFE)

An ascetic performs yoga at his makeshift tent near the banks of Sangam -the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati river during the Magh Mela festival in Allahabad on January 28, 2022. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/AFP Photo)

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers offer sweet to each other during the celebrations to mark country's Republic Day at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35kms from Amritsar on January 26, 2025. (Photo by Narinder Nanu/AFP Photo)