RELIGION PICTURE GALLERIES

Accident came after warnings from district administrator who had not given permission for fireworks display to go ahead

People visit ancestors' graves and leave them food and paper money to mark Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day.

In this gallery, IBTimesUK looks at Holy Week processions in several cities around Spain.

Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar, on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week which focuses on Jesus' last days before he was crucified.

In Spain, Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is the most important religious period of the year, with processions featuring hooded figures.

Nowruz marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated in countries that use the Persian calendar.

The spectacular celebration in Valencia consists of giant mechanisms, gunpowder, street performances and music

Men and women in Uttar Pradesh state celebrate spring with the Hindu festival of Lathmar Holi.

Shiva is celebrated on the 13th night and the 14th days of the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. In 2016 it was celebrated on 7 March

Looking more like a UFO than a Buddhist temple, the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple is Thailand's richest place of worship.

Pope Francis travels to Chiapas state, centre of Mexico's poor, indigenous south, to preside over a mass in native languages.

Vendors are selling the Pope's image on just about any item imaginable: flags, posters, towels, scarves, pens, life-sized cutouts – and even lottery tickets.

Five judges will decide whether Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which describes homosexuality as an 'unnatural offence', can be overturned.

Millions of Hindus celebrate the festival of Thaipusam across south-east Asia

Hindus celebrate several festivals in mid-January, such as Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal.

Ramnamis tattoo the Hindu god Ram's name on their bodies as a message to higher-caste Indians that god is everywhere.

It's Christmas Day for Orthodox Christians in countries such as Russia, Serbia, Egypt.

Many Christians around the world are celebrating Epiphany, while others are preparing for Christmas.

Followers of the Afro-Brazilian Candomble and Umbanda religions gather on Rio's Copacabana Beach to pay tribute to Iemanja, the queen of the sea.

Arbaeen, also known as Chehlum, commemorates the end of the 40-day mourning period after the killing of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, in a battle in 680 AD.