The Best PHOTOS of the Year: Part II

As 2013 nears its end, rediff.com presents a selection of the most enduring images of year from around the world

This is the second of the three-part photo feature

This Photograph: Anti-government protestors burn an effigy of Philippine president Benigno Aquino III during a protest action against Aquino's fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22, 2013 in Quezon City, Philippines. Thousands of protestors tried to break through police barriers to get near the House of Representatives where Aquino is speaking before the Upper and Lower House of the Philippine Congress. (Photo by )

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A transgender Hindu devotee dances during Lathmaar Holi celebrations on March 21, 2013 in the village of Barsana, near Mathura, India. The tradition of playing with colours on Holi draws its roots from a legend of Radha and Krishna. It is believed that young Krishna was jealous of Radha's fair complexion since he himself was himself very dark. After questioning his mother Yashoda on the darkness of his complexion, Yashoda, teasingly asked him to color Radha's face in which ever color he wanted. In a mischievous mood, Krishna applied color on Radha's face. The tradition of applying color on one's beloved is being religiously followed until today

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A runner gets gored by a bull on Estafeta street during the sixth running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 12, 2013.  The runner, a 31-year-old man from Castellon, Spain, identified by local media as Diego Miralles, was gored three times.

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A passenger aircraft, with the full "Harvest Moon" seen behind, makes its final approach to landing at Heathrow Airport in west London, September 19, 2013. The Harvest Moon is a traditional name for the full moon that is closest to the autumn equinox, and at a traditional period where farmers would be harvesting crops. The moon's rise time and angle of path give the illusion that the Harvest Moon is both closer, larger and brighter; though actually it is not.

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A protestor runs as police fire a water canon during a demonstration in front of the Indonesian parliament against a proposed rise in fuel prices on June 17, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

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A Free Syrian Army fighter (left) looks at his comrade as he gets shot by sniper fire during heavy fighting in the Ain Tarma neighbourhood of Damascus January 30, 2013. The Free Syrian Army fighter on the left was wounded moments later. The fighter on the right died soon after being shot.

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A Turkish riot policeman uses tear gas as people protest against the destruction of trees in a park brought about by a pedestrian project, in Taksim Square in central Istanbul May 28, 2013.

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US President Barack Obama meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen,  Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. 

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Hindu devotees bathe in the waters of the holy Ganges river during the auspicious royal bathing day of Makar Sankranti, the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 14, 2013 in Allahabad, India. The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The Kumbh Mela alternates between the cities of Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years. The Maha Kumbh Mela celebrated at the holy site of Sangam in Allahabad, is the largest and holiest, celebrated over 55 days, attracted over 100 million people.

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Bullfighter Juan Jose Padill performs during a bullfight as part of the Las Fallas Festival on March 18, 2013 in Valencia, Spain. The Fallas festival, which runs from March 15 until March 19, celebrates the arrival of spring with fireworks, fiestas and bonfires made from large ninots (puppets).

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A man hangs onto the railing of North Curl Curl ocean pool after winds and rain battered Sydney last night producing large swell on January 29, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Parts of Sydney are experienced record rainfall after ex-cyclone Oswald swept through the city

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A woman pose for a photo in front of photowall with motiv of a phantasy library at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 9, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany

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Workers and pedestrians ride pedicabs and makeshift rafts on a flooded street that submerged parts of the financial district of Makati on August 20, 2013 in Makati City south of Manila, Philippines. Schools, government offices and financial markets suspended classes and work except for rescues and disaster response as torrential rains enhanced by the southwestern monsoon inundated much of the metropolis. Major roads were impassable as floodwaters reached waist or neck deep in some areas forcing thousands of residents living near waterways and creeks to evacuate their homes and seek shelter

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Seventy-eight year old street barber Thuan, smokes a pipe as he waits for customers at his roadside barber shop on July 20, 2013 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Thaun has been a street barber for over 30 years after serving in the Vietnamese military. Hanoi's street barbers are a tradition that stretches back to the 18th century. On average a haircut will cost between $1 and $4 depending on the fame of the barber and if you are a regular or not. Many of the barbers are ex-miltary personnel, retired from service and looking to keep busy or to help cover weekly expenses for their families.

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A man runs up the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta August 25, 2013. In the traditional "gostra", a game stretching back to the Middle Ages, young men, women and children have to make their way to the top and try to uproot one of the flags to win prizes. From May to September in Malta, there is hardly any weekend when a town or a village is not celebrating the feast of its patron saint or other saints revered in different churches.

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