Blind fervour 

A devotee has his back pierced with hooks and weighed down with lime before starting his pilgrimage to the sacred Batu Caves temple during Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves, outside Kuala Lumpur. Thousands of Hindus, who comprise over 8 per cent of the 29 million Malaysian population, participate in the annual Hindu thanksgiving festival in which devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and penance held in honour of Lord Subramaniam. Photo: REUTERS/Samsul Said

Devotees try to touch the statue of the Black Nazarene during the annual religious procession in Manila. Hundreds of thousands of barefoot devotees poured into the capital for one of the world's biggest Catholic parades honouring an ebony statue of Jesus Christ they believe has miraculous powers. Photo: AFP / TED ALJIBE