CUBAN PILGRIM SITTING ON SIDEWALK NEAR ST LAZARUS SHRINE, 2003-12-16 (photo)

A Cuban pilgrim sits on a sidewalk near the shrine of Saint Lazarus or Babalu Aye in Cuba's Santeria religion, outside of Havana, December 16, 2003. Hundreds of followers of Cuba's Santeria religion celebrate one of their holiest saints while walking for days to obtain relief from dreadful diseases or to fullfil promises for granted wishes. Santeria is another name for a widespread African-origin religion that is called Voodoo in Haiti and New Orleans and Macumba in Brazil. Due to strong and devious influence of Catholic Spanish-speaking slave masters during colonial times, most of the Yoruba slaves began to identify Yoruba Deities with Christian God and Saints of the Catholic Church. PICTURE TAKEN DECEMBER 16 REUTERS/Claudia Daut REUTERS CD