Myanmar: Line of Monks at Bagan New Year's Festival - stock photo

"Bagan, Myanmar - January 2, 2007: At the Ananda Temple in Bagan, a line of monks from all over the district line up to participate in a central ceremony of the annual new year's festival. Each monk and novice will receive a distribution of money and/or food which has been gathered from donations made by local residents who have traveled here from all over the district, often on oxcarts. Locals expect that their offerings will bring them both good luck in the coming year and religious merit for the next life."