religious man holding a chicken over a girl's head whilst another man holds the girl who appears frightened

Gallery: The best photos from around the world

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken over his daughter’s head as part of the Kaparot ritual in Bnei Brak, Israel. Observant Jews believe the ritual transfers one’s sins from the past year into the chicken, and is performed before the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year which starts at sundown Tuesday.

 

See the full gallery at The Age.