Fordo, which is buried deep under a mountain inside a military base near the holy city of Qom, has long been of concern to the West.

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He started with the small quatrefoil lights of the Holy Spirit and the crucifixion, proceeding down through the main panels of Christ and his followers on the mountain, with all the way the white shaft of God's transfiguring light growing broader through the fire-and-storm colours of the glass.

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Originally danced by holy officers of the Shrine to demonstrate the power of the mountain deity and bless the people, the Hayachine Kagura is now performed by representatives of the entire community, who take pride in their distinctive culture.

UNESCO: Culture

Tai Shan, a holy mountain south of Beijing, is one of the country's most popular tourist sites--especially among would-be grandmothers, who trudge to the top, drape red strings over trees and then return home to wait for the grandson this ritual is supposed to guarantee.

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"You can get 80 pounds into a backpack, and you get big legs running over the mountain, " says Paul de Felice, co-owner of the Holy Smoke smokeasy in the eastern B.

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