Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money. In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.

Christians Celebrate Good Friday

Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian.

Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.

Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem

The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.

Holi Festival in Mathura, India

Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”, Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.

Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.

Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.

People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan

The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.

People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami

This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.

Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius

Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan

It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.

Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine

Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine. At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.

Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel

They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.

Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple

Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.

Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon

Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.

Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.

Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

The Wedding Industrial Complex

Were Weddings Always This…Extra?

In our parents’ generation, most weddings took place in a house of worship, followed by a cake and punch reception in the basement or a local VFW hall, and everyone was decked out in polyester. No one was going for a “viral moment,” and videographers and photo booths weren’t a thing.
But something shifted in Roxy’s and Katelyn’s lifetimes: today, many couples feel every detail of their wedding needs to reflect their unique personalities, and the wedding industry has exploded, to the tune of $1 trillion globally in 2025. No wonder wedding planning feels by turns fun and exhausting.
In this episode, as Katelyn prepares for her July wedding, and producer Jonathan prepares for his September one, we reflect on the pressures women, especially, face as they prepare; what values guide our planning; and how to stay present on the Big Day (pro tip: get a day-of coordinator if you can!).

Original Source:

https://religionnews.com/2026/05/14/the-wedding-industrial-complex/