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West Asia
A man sets off a fire cracker to celebrate Nowruz, Iranian New year, in Babol City
An Iranian man holds a fire cracker during the celebration of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Babol City, northern Iran, on March 19, 2013. “Nowruz”, which usually occurs on March 20 or 21, marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the new year on the Iranian…
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West Asia
Foreign and local artists dance to celebrate Nevruz in Istanbul, Turkey
Artists perform at Nevruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 17, 2013. The Nevruz performance, organized by the Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture (TURKSOY), brings together more than 250 artists from different countries or regions to celebrate Nevruz in 15 cities of Turkey. Artists perform on stage at…
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Central Asia
Muscovites celebrate traditional Russian holiday marking the end of winter
Muscovites gather to burn an effigy of Lady Maslenitsa during celebrations of Pancake Week, in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Maslenitsa is a traditional Russian holiday marking the end of winter that dates back to the pagan times. <AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev>
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West Asia
The New Far Pope, the New Near Dialogue
The newly elected Argentinean Pope Jorge Berguliu was a real surprise, even for his own home countrymen. Reasons are many; he is the first pope descended from the American continent. This was the first great surprise in the whole of Latin America and left residents of Buenos Aires spontaneously in…
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East Asia
People perform an activity of ancient ethnic Qiang at a festival in Sichuan, China
Local residents perform an activity of the ancient Qiang ethnic minority at the Guairu Festival in Puxi Township of Lixian County in the Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, March 13, 2013. Wednesday marks the second day of the second lunar month, which is also…
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South East Asia
Artists dance at festival ending Chinese New Year celebration in Bogor, Indonesia
People perform a dragon dance during a cultural festival marking the end of Chinese New Year celebrations in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. An artist performs during a cultural festival marking the end of Chinese New Year celebration in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 13, 2013.…
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West Asia
[Novel] The Road to Shamawes ⑦
[11] On the way back home Khodeir drives slowly along Cairo’s busy streets with elevated bumps, repeating his familiar sentence: “Cairo his become just a big bump with a million children who play with our cars. As he drives fast along the Nile, Donia asks herself: “What attracts me to…
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South Asia
Pashupatinath saw largest crowd at Shivaratri festival
Kathmandu – “Jaya Shambho! Jaya Shambo!!” Some 1.2 million Hindu devotees thronged into the Pashupatinath temple area chanting these words on the day of Shivaratri festival on Sunday. Famous Pashupatinath Temple located in the heart of Kathamndu is one of the famous pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Every Hindu has a…
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East Asia
Asia’s first Holocaust Museum opens in Busan
Interview with Israeli Ambassador Tuvia Israeli “We would like to share the story and lessons of the Holocaust. There are many similarities, but yet so much unknown.” Israeli Ambassador to Korea Tuvia Israeli told The AsiaN about the opening of the Busan Israel House in late February at the Israeli Embassy in…
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South Asia
Hindu devotees gather at a temple in Mumbai to celebrate Maha Shivaratri festival
Hindu devotees queue to attend an event at the Babulnath Temple in Mumbai, India, March 10, 2013. A lot of Hindu devotees gathered at the Babulnath Temple Sunday to offer milk and flowers to celebrate the Maha Shivaratri festival. Maha Shivaratri which can be translated into “great night of Lord…
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