Ashura festivities in the Muslim world

Mumbai, India: Indian Shi'ite Muslims flay themselves with knives during a religious procession on Ashura Photograph: Pal Pillai/guardian.co.uk

Istanbul, Turkey: Shi'ite men shout as they mourn during an Ashura procession Photograph: Murad Sezer/guardian.co.uk

Mumbai, India: Indian Shi'ite Muslim carry a boy on their shoulders after self-flagellation during a religious procession on Ashura Photograph: Pal Pillai/guardian.co.uk

Kabul, Afghanistan: Afghan Shi'ite Muslims flagellate themselves with chains Photograph: Marko Djurica/guardian.co.uk

Nabatiyeh, Lebanon: Lebanese Shi'ite Muslims covered with blood after cutting their heads Photograph: Rawan/guardian.co.uk

Amritsar, India: An Indian Shi'ite Muslim drinks water at a mosque on Ashura Photograph: Altaf Qadri/guardian.co.uk

Yazd, Iran: Iranian Shi'ite Muslims carry a religious symbol as they take part in the Ashura festival Photograph: Morteza Nikoubazl/guardian.co.uk

Baghdad, Iraq: A pilgrim has his head shaved during the religious ceremony of Ashura in Kadhimiya district Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Kabul, Afghanistan: Afghan Shi'ite Muslim women pray during Ashura at a Shiite mosque Photograph: Majid Saeedi/guardian.co.uk

Allahabad, India: Indian Muslim women walk past free food being cooked by the wayside for the poor as part of Ashura festivities Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/guardian.co.uk

Karbala, Iraq: Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims pray at a mosque to mark Ashura Photograph: Mohammed Sawaf/guardian.co.uk

Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim women, wearing yellow Hezbollah scarves, take part in a ceremony organised by the Shiite movement to mark the final day of Ashura Photograph: Anwar Amro/guardian.co.uk