Baikho Festival - India

Baikho Festival - India

Rabha tribal priests walk barefoot across burning coals during sacred Baikho festival rituals in Pantan village, Kamrup, in India's northeastern state of Assam on June 11, 2025. The annual ceremony venerates their wealth deity while petitioning for abundant rains and prosperous harvests for the farming community. Photo by Hafiz Ahmed/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Baikho Festival - India

Baikho Festival - India

Rabha tribal priests walk barefoot across burning coals during sacred Baikho festival rituals in Pantan village, Kamrup, in India's northeastern state of Assam on June 11, 2025. The annual ceremony venerates their wealth deity while petitioning for abundant rains and prosperous harvests for the farming community. Photo by Hafiz Ahmed/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Baikho Festival - India

Baikho Festival - India

Rabha tribal priests walk barefoot across burning coals during sacred Baikho festival rituals in Pantan village, Kamrup, in India's northeastern state of Assam on June 11, 2025. The annual ceremony venerates their wealth deity while petitioning for abundant rains and prosperous harvests for the farming community. Photo by Hafiz Ahmed/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Baikho Festival - India

Baikho Festival - India

An Indian Rabha tribal priest dances around burning charcoal during sacred Baikho festival rituals in Pantan village, Kamrup, in India's northeastern state of Assam on June 11, 2025. The annual ceremony venerates their wealth deity while petitioning for abundant rains and prosperous harvests for the farming community. Photo by Hafiz Ahmed/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Baikho Festival - India

Baikho Festival - India

An Indian Rabha tribal priest dances around burning charcoal during sacred Baikho festival rituals in Pantan village, Kamrup, in India's northeastern state of Assam on June 11, 2025. The annual ceremony venerates their wealth deity while petitioning for abundant rains and prosperous harvests for the farming community. Photo by Hafiz Ahmed/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Baikho Festival - India

Baikho Festival - India

Rabha tribal priests walk barefoot across burning coals during sacred Baikho festival rituals in Pantan village, Kamrup, in India's northeastern state of Assam on June 11, 2025. The annual ceremony venerates their wealth deity while petitioning for abundant rains and prosperous harvests for the farming community. Photo by Hafiz Ahmed/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Lag Baomer Celebration in Jerusalem

Lag Baomer Celebration in Jerusalem

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, May 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

Lag Baomer Celebration in Jerusalem

Lag Baomer Celebration in Jerusalem

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, May 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

Lag Baomer Celebration in Jerusalem

Lag Baomer Celebration in Jerusalem

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, May 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

Customs Burn Contraband in Lahore for International Day - Pakistan

Customs Burn Contraband in Lahore for International Day - Pakistan

A pile of burning contraband items are seen during an event to mark International Customs Day in Lahore, Pakistan on Jan. 26, 2025. Pakistani customs officials burnt smuggled and contraband items seized in the country during a ceremony to mark the International Customs Day on Jan. 26. Photo by Sajjad/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Customs Burn Contraband in Lahore for International Day - Pakistan

Customs Burn Contraband in Lahore for International Day - Pakistan

A customs official stands guard near a pile of burning contraband items during an event to mark International Customs Day in Lahore, Pakistan on Jan. 26, 2025. Pakistani customs officials burnt smuggled and contraband items seized in the country during a ceremony to mark the International Customs Day on Jan. 26. Photo by Sajjad/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony

OSLO, Norway, Dec. 11 Kyodo - A woman holds a burning torch in Oslo after the ceremony for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, is held on Dec. 10, 2024, at Oslo City Hall in the Norwegian capital.(Kyodo)

Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony

Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony

A woman holds a burning torch in Oslo after the ceremony for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, is held on Dec. 10, 2024, at Oslo City Hall in the Norwegian capital.

Cambodia burns down multi-million USD worth of seized narcotics, precursor chemicals

STORY: Cambodia burns down multi-million USD worth of seized narcotics, precursor chemicals SHOOTING TIME: June 14, 2024 DATELINE: June 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:20 LOCATION: Phnom Penh CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of military police guards during drug-burning 2. various of illicit drug piles 3. various of officials burning drugs 4. various of drugs on fire STORYLINE: Cambodia on Friday destroyed multi-million U.S. dollars worth of narcotics and precursor chemicals seized from across the Southeast Asian country, officials said. Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, set fire to the illicit drugs and precursor chemicals at a ceremony held at an incinerator on the northern outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh. He said the drug destruction was made to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed annually on June 26. "A total of 4.1 tons of illicit drugs, with a trafficking market value of about 22.7 mill

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish person attends a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish people attend a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

MIDEAST-JERUSALEM-LAG BAOMER-CELEBRATION

(240526) -- JERUSALEM, May 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish person attends a fire burning ceremony as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

20 tonnes of drugs destroyed in Afghanistan

STORY: 20 tonnes of drugs destroyed in Afghanistan SHOOTING TIME: April 23, 2024 DATELINE: April 25, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:44 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghan security force members in preparation for burning illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing drugs, in Kabul 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MUFTI AHMADULLAH AHMADI, Head of counter-narcotics police 3. various of the ceremony of setting on fire illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing drugs STORYLINE: The Afghan caretaker government held a ceremony on Tuesday to set on fire a huge quantity of illicit drugs and the objects used in manufacturing drugs on the outskirts of the capital city of Kabul. More than 20 tonnes of illicit drugs including 635 kg of heroin were set on fire publicly. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): MUFTI AHMADULLAH AHMADI, Head of counter-narcotics police "The counter-narcotics police have conducted more than 22,000 operations and arrested more than 9,000 individuals on the charge of involvement in drug

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Mika Gustafson with the Best Director Award for film 'Paradise Is Burning' on stage during the Awards ceremony at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2023 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS:COM

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Mika Gustafson with the Best Director Award for film 'Paradise Is Burning' on stage during the Awards ceremony at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2023 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS:COM

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Mika Gustafson with the Best Director Award for film 'Paradise Is Burning' on stage during the Awards ceremony at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2023 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS:COM

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Mika Gustafson with the Best Director Award for film 'Paradise Is Burning' on stage during the Awards ceremony at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2023 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS:COM

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Mika Gustafson with the Best Director Award for film 'Paradise Is Burning' on stage during the Awards ceremony at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2023 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS:COM

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Venice - Closing Ceremony

Mika Gustafson with the Best Director Award for film 'Paradise Is Burning' on stage during the Awards ceremony at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2023 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Piovanotto/ABACAPRESS:COM

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

(230628) -- PHNOM PENH, June 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on June 28, 2023 shows a batch of seized illicit drugs and ingredients to be destroyed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodia on Wednesday destroyed 5.71 tons of illicit drugs and ingredients, officials said. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng set fire to the illicit drugs and substances at a ceremony held at the Diamond Island in the capital Phnom Penh. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

(230628) -- PHNOM PENH, June 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A military police officer stands guard during a ceremony where a batch of seized illicit drugs and ingredients are destroyed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 28, 2023. Cambodia on Wednesday destroyed 5.71 tons of illicit drugs and ingredients, officials said. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng set fire to the illicit drugs and substances at a ceremony held at the Diamond Island in the capital Phnom Penh. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

(230628) -- PHNOM PENH, June 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Illicit drugs and ingredients are burned down in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 28, 2023. Cambodia on Wednesday destroyed 5.71 tons of illicit drugs and ingredients, officials said. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng set fire to the illicit drugs and substances at a ceremony held at the Diamond Island in the capital Phnom Penh. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

(230628) -- PHNOM PENH, June 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian officials set fire on a batch of seized illicit drugs and ingredients in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 28, 2023. Cambodia on Wednesday destroyed 5.71 tons of illicit drugs and ingredients, officials said. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng set fire to the illicit drugs and substances at a ceremony held at the Diamond Island in the capital Phnom Penh. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-ILLICIT DRUGS AND INGREDIENTS-BURNING-CEREMONY

(230628) -- PHNOM PENH, June 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Military police officers stand guard during a ceremony where a batch of seized illicit drugs and ingredients are destroyed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 28, 2023. Cambodia on Wednesday destroyed 5.71 tons of illicit drugs and ingredients, officials said. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng set fire to the illicit drugs and substances at a ceremony held at the Diamond Island in the capital Phnom Penh. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

Myanmar burns over 446 mln USD worth of seized narcotic drugs

STORY: Myanmar burns over 446 mln USD worth of seized narcotic drugs DATELINE: June 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:23 LOCATION: YANGON, Myanmar CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the drug burning ceremony in Yangon STORYLINE: Myanmar destroyed more than 446 million U.S. dollar worth of narcotic drugs seized from around the country to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, police said. The seized illegal drugs and precursor chemicals were ceremonially burnt in the Southeast Asian country's three major cities of Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi, it said. Myanmar's authorities destroyed 36 kinds of narcotic drugs worth nearly 208 million dollars in Yangon, 34 kinds of drugs worth over 69 million dollars in Mandalay, and 75 kinds of drugs worth over about 170 million dollars in Taunggyi, respectively. Last year, narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals worth over 642 million dollars were also burnt in the three places. The destroyed drugs included heroin, op

Flame for Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Games lit in Athens

STORY: Flame for Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Games lit in Athens DATELINE: June 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the ceremony 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): DIONISIS KODELAS, President of Special Olympics Hellas 3. various of the ceremony 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SVEN ALBRECHT, CEO of Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): DAVID EVANGELISTA, Regional president and managing director, Europe Eurasia Special Olympics STORYLINE: The Flame of Hope, which will be burning for the Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Games, was lit in Athens on Wednesday. The ritual ceremony was held with the participation of Special Olympics athletes in the tradition of lighting of the flame for the Olympic Games. The event was hosted at Zappeion exhibition hall, near the stadium which hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896. The flame was ignited out of a concave mirror using the sun's rays. A Greek girl playing the role of an ancient Greek High Pri

70th anniv. of 1st suicide attack by Japan during WWII

70th anniv. of 1st suicide attack by Japan during WWII

MABALACAT CITY, Philippines - The Goma Fire Ritual, an ancient Buddhist prayer ritual that involves the burning of a thick bush, is held during a ceremony praying for world peace in Mabalacat City north of Manila on Oct. 25, 2014, the 70th anniversary of the first suicide air attack deployed by Japanese forces against U.S. warships during World War II. Mabalacat is where an airfield was located where, on Oct. 25, 1944, Lt. Yukio Seki led the first "kamikaze" attack fleet against U.S. warships in Leyte Gulf. About 150 Japanese and Filipinos attended the ceremony.

London Olympics open

London Olympics open

LONDON, Britain - Fireworks are set off for the finale of the opening ceremony of the London Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012, with the Olympic flame burning at the center of the stadium.

London Olympics open

London Olympics open

LONDON, Britain - The Olympic flame is burning at the center of the Olympic Stadium in London, surrounded by delegations from each country during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27, 2012.

London Olympics open

London Olympics open

LONDON, Britain - Fireworks are set off for the finale of the opening ceremony of the London Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012, with the Olympic flame burning at the center of the stadium.

London Olympics open

London Olympics open

LONDON, Britain - The Olympic flame is burning at the center of the Olympic Stadium in London, surrounded by delegations from each country during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27, 2012.

Olympics flag lowered

Olympics flag lowered

The Olympics flag is lowered in the closing ceremony of the 18th Winter Olympics in Nagano, central Japan, on Feb. 22. The burning Olympics flame is at the background.

70th anniv. of 1st suicide attack by Japan during WWII

70th anniv. of 1st suicide attack by Japan during WWII

MABALACAT CITY, Philippines - The Goma Fire Ritual, an ancient Buddhist prayer ritual that involves the burning of a thick bush, is held during a ceremony praying for world peace in Mabalacat City north of Manila on Oct. 25, 2014, the 70th anniversary of the first suicide air attack deployed by Japanese forces against U.S. warships during World War II. Mabalacat is where an airfield was located where, on Oct. 25, 1944, Lt. Yukio Seki led the first "kamikaze" attack fleet against U.S. warships in Leyte Gulf. About 150 Japanese and Filipinos attended the ceremony. (Kyodo)

Todaiji's Nigatsudo lit up

Todaiji's Nigatsudo lit up

NARA, Japan - Todaiji Temple's Nigatsudo edifice in Nara, western Japan, is lit up by burning torches during the 'Omizutori' (water-drawing) ceremony that began March 1. In the traditional event, which lasts until March 14, monks offer repentance to the Goddess of Mercy and pray for peace and the happiness of the people.