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China: Burning Paper Spirals Into Mini Tornado After You Shen Ritual in Guangdong

A Chinese worship ceremony appeared to trigger a sudden mini tornado when burning paper offerings spiraled into the air without any warning wind. Filmed on February 25, 2026, in Lianjiang, Guangdong, the video shows ashes and flames suddenly twisting into a vertical column shortly after a traditional You Shen ritual ended. Residents had been burning paper ingots when the fire rapidly spun upward, forming what looked like a small tornado. The woman who recorded the scene, surnamed Huang, said the air had been completely still moments before the ashes violently lifted off the ground. The swirling column gradually weakened, and the burning paper fell back down as the air returned to calm.

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

Students display their artworks during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

Children perform during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

An aerial drone photo taken on on December 7, 2025 shows people tasting food at an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

A crew member displays the first ice cube collected during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

Crew members transport the first ice cube collected during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

Crew members prepare to collect the first ice cube during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

An aerial drone photo shows people viewing the first ice cube collected during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Wang Song/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

Crew members collect ice during an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 7, 2025. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Harbin Ice Collection Festival - China

An aerial drone photo taken on on December 7, 2025 shows people tasting food at an ice collecting festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Marking the beginning of Harbin's ice collecting season, the sixth ice collecting festival kicked off here by the Songhua River on Sunday, attracting lots of people with ice collecting ceremony and folk custom experience activities. Photo by Zhang Tao/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Circassian Dances Celebrate Aleppo Citadel Reopening - Syria

A group of dancers perform traditional Circassian folk dances in colorful costumes during the reopening ceremony of the historic Aleppo Citadel, restored after years of war and the fall of the Assad regime, symbolizing the revival of cultural and heritage life in the city. Aleppo, Syria on September 28, 2025. Photo by Mohammad Daher/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Circassian Dances Celebrate Aleppo Citadel Reopening - Syria

A group of dancers perform traditional Circassian folk dances in colorful costumes during the reopening ceremony of the historic Aleppo Citadel, restored after years of war and the fall of the Assad regime, symbolizing the revival of cultural and heritage life in the city. Aleppo, Syria on September 28, 2025. Photo by Mohammad Daher/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Italian week at Osaka expo

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at a ceremony marking the opening of the eight-day Italian week at the World Exposition in Osaka on Sept. 7, 2025.

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Italian week at Osaka expo

Dancers perform the Awa Odori traditional folk dance of Japan's Tokushima Prefecture at a ceremony marking the opening of the eight-day Italian week at the World Exposition in Osaka on Sept. 7, 2025.

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Ukraine day at Osaka expo

Ukrainian electro-folk band Onuka performs during a ceremony marking Ukraine day at the World Exposition in Osaka on Aug. 5, 2025.

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Ukraine day at Osaka expo

Ukrainian electro-folk band Onuka performs during a ceremony marking Ukraine day at the World Exposition in Osaka on Aug. 5, 2025.

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Ukraine day at Osaka expo

Ukrainian electro-folk band Onuka performs during a ceremony marking Ukraine day at the World Exposition in Osaka on Aug. 5, 2025.

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Ukraine day at Osaka expo

Ukrainian electro-folk band Onuka performs during a ceremony marking Ukraine day at the World Exposition in Osaka on Aug. 5, 2025.

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Illustration - Brittany

FRANCE. FINISTERE (29) BRITTANY REGION. LA CORNOUAILLE. PONT-L'ABBE. FOLK CELEBRATION Photo by Gerard Sioen/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Illustration - Brittany

FRANCE. FINISTERE (29) BRITTANY REGION. LA CORNOUAILLE. PONT-L'ABBE. FOLK CELEBRATION Photo by Gerard Sioen/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Xi Jinping At Opening Ceremony Of The 9th Asian Winter Games - China

International dignitaries are greeted by a group of 40 children in Chinese and foreign ethnic costumes singing Heilongjiang folk song "Boat Song on the Wusuli" in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 7, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Friday hosted a welcome banquet in China's northeastern city of Harbin for international dignitaries who are here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games. Photo by Yan Yan/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - Pelahiia Zhyvko, 96, who helped with Ukraines biggest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) attends the ceremony to install the creation at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The National Register of Records certificate is pictured during the ceremony to unveil Ukraines biggest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - Pelahiia Zhyvko, 96, who helped with Ukraines biggest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) attends the ceremony to install the creation at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - Pelahiia Zhyvko, 96, who helped with Ukraines biggest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) attends the ceremony to install the creation at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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Ukraines coat of arms made of didukhs installed in Lviv

LVIV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 23, 2024 - The ceremony to install Ukraines largest trident, also known as the tryzub, made of 340 didukhs (Ukrainian Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat) takes place at the Taras Shevchenko monument, Lviv, western Ukraine. The seven-meter-tall main element of the Ukrainian coat of arms was created a year ago by wounded soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade under the supervision of Pelahiia Zhyvko.

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FINLAND-TAMPERE-FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

(240614) -- TAMPERE, June 14, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival in Tampere, Finland, on June 13, 2024. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival this year will last till June 16. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Chen Jing)

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FINLAND-TAMPERE-FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

(240614) -- TAMPERE, June 14, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival in Tampere, Finland, on June 13, 2024. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival this year will last till June 16. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Chen Jing)

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FINLAND-TAMPERE-FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

(240614) -- TAMPERE, June 14, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival in Tampere, Finland, on June 13, 2024. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival this year will last till June 16. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Chen Jing)

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FINLAND-TAMPERE-FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

(240614) -- TAMPERE, June 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival in Tampere, Finland, on June 13, 2024. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival this year will last till June 16. (Xinhua/Chen Jing)

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FINLAND-TAMPERE-FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

(240614) -- TAMPERE, June 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival in Tampere, Finland, on June 13, 2024. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival this year will last till June 16. (Xinhua/Chen Jing)

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FINLAND-TAMPERE-FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

(240614) -- TAMPERE, June 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival in Tampere, Finland, on June 13, 2024. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival this year will last till June 16. (Xinhua/Chen Jing)

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International folklore festival kicks off in Finnish city

STORY: International folklore festival kicks off in Finnish city SHOOTING TIME: June 13, 2024 DATELINE: June 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:20 LOCATION: TAMPERE, Finland CATEGORY: ART/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the festival STORYLINE: The opening ceremony of the 2024 Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival was held on Thursday. The four-day event features indoor and outdoor concerts, seminars, workshops, and dance classes, attracting nearly a thousand participants from Finland, Latvia, Ukraine, and Estonia. The Pispala Schottische International Folklore Festival, one of the largest folk dance and music festivals in the Nordic region, marks the advent of summer with captivating folk dances, stunning ethnic costumes, and traditional music performances. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tampere, Finland. (XHTV)

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CHINA-SHANGHAI-LUODIAN DRAGON BOATING CUSTOMS (CN)

(240609) -- SHANGHAI, June 9, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Zhang Guomin attends a ceremony before the departure of dragon boats during the Baoshan Luodian dragon boat festival in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2024. Originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the dragon boating customs in Luodian, located in east China's Shanghai Baoshan District, has kept prosperous with long-lasting vitality. Nowadays, the dragon boating customs in Luodian has become an iconic folk custom activity during Dragon Boat Festival in Shanghai. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Over the years, Zhang Guomin and Zhang Guozhong from a shipbuilding family have been making efforts to preserve the dragon boat making techniques. They have been teaching younger generations to carry forward the dragon boat making techniques inherited from their father Zhang Fucheng, who died in 2017. Luodian dragon boat is famous for its small size and exquisite design. It has a float bottom and a shallow draft, m

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CHINA-SHANGHAI-LUODIAN DRAGON BOATING CUSTOMS (CN)

(240609) -- SHANGHAI, June 9, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Guomin attends a ceremony before the departure of dragon boats during the Baoshan Luodian dragon boat festival in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2024. Originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the dragon boating customs in Luodian, located in east China's Shanghai Baoshan District, has kept prosperous with long-lasting vitality. Nowadays, the dragon boating customs in Luodian has become an iconic folk custom activity during Dragon Boat Festival in Shanghai. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Over the years, Zhang Guomin and Zhang Guozhong from a shipbuilding family have been making efforts to preserve the dragon boat making techniques. They have been teaching younger generations to carry forward the dragon boat making techniques inherited from their father Zhang Fucheng, who died in 2017. Luodian dragon boat is famous for its small size and exquisite design. It has a float bottom and a shallow draft, making it suitable

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13th Baghdad International Flower Festival kicks off in Iraq

STORY: 13th Baghdad International Flower Festival kicks off in Iraq SHOOTING TIME: April 19, 2024 DATELINE: April 20, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:44 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of visitors attending the 13th Baghdad International Flower Festival in Baghdad 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): ALAA ABDEL SATTAR, Visitor STORYLINE: With a slogan of "Baghdad, flowers and reconstruction," the 13th Baghdad International Flower Festival kicked off on Friday in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, attracting visitors from home and abroad. Iraqi officials and representatives of diplomatic delegations in Baghdad attended the opening ceremony, during which the Iraqi national anthem was played and folk music was performed by local musicians. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): ALAA ABDEL SATTAR, Visitor "This year, we notice a great momentum in attendance, especially families who have suffered from wars. This festival is considered an outlet for them. And we notice the presence of women more than men as women have a higher interest

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People Worship with a giant thangka at Langmu Temple, China

GANNAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 20, 2016 - (FILE) People worship with a giant thangka during Sho Dun Festival, which was held at Langmu Temple in Luqu county, China's Gansu province, 20 February 2016. Renowned attractions such as the langmu temple, the Laga Mountain, the Zhagana scenic area are all worthwhile for your time; visitors can also experience the unique folk customs, which is the best way to fully immerse into local culture.

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People Worship with a giant thangka at Langmu Temple, China

GANNAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 20, 2016 - (FILE) People worship with a giant thangka during Sho Dun Festival, which was held at Langmu Temple in Luqu county, China's Gansu province, 20 February 2016. Renowned attractions such as the langmu temple, the Laga Mountain, the Zhagana scenic area are all worthwhile for your time; visitors can also experience the unique folk customs, which is the best way to fully immerse into local culture.

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People Worship with a giant thangka at Langmu Temple, China

GANNAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 20, 2016 - (FILE) People worship with a giant thangka during Sho Dun Festival, which was held at Langmu Temple in Luqu county, China's Gansu province, 20 February 2016. Renowned attractions such as the langmu temple, the Laga Mountain, the Zhagana scenic area are all worthwhile for your time; visitors can also experience the unique folk customs, which is the best way to fully immerse into local culture.

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People Worship with a giant thangka at Langmu Temple, China

GANNAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 20, 2016 - (FILE) People worship with a giant thangka during Sho Dun Festival, which was held at Langmu Temple in Luqu county, China's Gansu province, 20 February 2016. Renowned attractions such as the langmu temple, the Laga Mountain, the Zhagana scenic area are all worthwhile for your time; visitors can also experience the unique folk customs, which is the best way to fully immerse into local culture.

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People Worship with a giant thangka at Langmu Temple, China

GANNAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 20, 2016 - (FILE) People worship with a giant thangka during Sho Dun Festival, which was held at Langmu Temple in Luqu county, China's Gansu province, 20 February 2016. Renowned attractions such as the langmu temple, the Laga Mountain, the Zhagana scenic area are all worthwhile for your time; visitors can also experience the unique folk customs, which is the best way to fully immerse into local culture.