New Hopes, New Dreams

2012 holds the promise of being another eventful year. Festivals and elections have already kicked off in many parts of the world

Curated By: Forbes India Photo Team

Published: Jan 16, 2012

Republican presidential candidate and former US Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (centre) is seen

Image by : Mike Segar/REUTERS

1/11

Republican presidential candidate and former US Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (centre) is seen through a window from outside the Littleton Town Hall and Opera House during a campaign stop in Littleton, New Hampshire

Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a celebration for Epiphany Day in

Image by : Stoyan Nenov /REUTERS

2/11

Bulgarian men dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha river during a celebration for Epiphany Day in the town of Kalofer. It is believed that the ritual will bring health throughout the new year

North Korean soldiers react during their late leader Kim Jong-il's funeral procession in Pyongya

Image by : Kyodo/REUTERS

3/11

North Korean soldiers react during their late leader Kim Jong-il's funeral procession in Pyongyang

This combination picture of two handout images from KCNA shows a limousine with a portrait of late N

Image by : KCNA/REUTERS

4/11

This combination picture of two handout images from KCNA shows a limousine with a portrait of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il leading his funeral procession in Pyongyang on December 28, 2011. In the top picture released by Kyodo, a group of men is seen on the left side of the picture. In the bottom picture which was sent directly to Reuters by KCNA, the group is missing. Reuters now believes the bottom picture was altered by KCNA. Reuters earlier transmitted the bottom picture to clients but has since withdrawn it

Two men dressed as Santa Claus use a toilet in Citta' Sant'Angelo near Pescara. A group of p

Image by : Alessandro Bianchi/REUTERS

5/11

Two men dressed as Santa Claus use a toilet in Citta' Sant'Angelo near Pescara. A group of people dressed up as Santa Claus to attend the ‘European Meeting of Santa Claus’ where they sang Christmas carols and interacted with passers-by to spread the joy of Christmas

Singer Lady Gaga and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg kiss each other during celebrations at th

Image by : York Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS

6/11

Singer Lady Gaga and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg kiss each other during celebrations at the New Year Eve ball in Times Square in New

Eagles fly around an eagle-shaped kite at the international kite festival in Ahmedabad. Around 200 k

Image by : Amit Dave /REUTERS

7/11

Eagles fly around an eagle-shaped kite at the international kite festival in Ahmedabad. Around 200 kite-flying enthusiasts from 24 countries will compete in the five-day festival.

A pair of water bath valves is on display at the ‘Titanic, The Artifact Exhibition’ at A

Image by : REUTERS

8/11

A pair of water bath valves is on display at the ‘Titanic, The Artifact Exhibition’ at Athens' Zappeion hall

Workers cover elephant statues at a park in Noida. The Election Commission has ordered officials in

Image by : Parivartan Sharma/REUTERS

9/11

Workers cover elephant statues at a park in Noida. The Election Commission has ordered officials in Uttar Pradesh to cover statues of its Chief Minister Mayawati and her party's elephant election symbol so as not to give any advantage to a political party

A man walks through a snow covered road after heavy snowfall in Shimla

Image by : Amit Kanwar/ REUTERS

10/11

A man walks through a snow covered road after heavy snowfall in Shimla

Buddhist monks carrying kettles run towards the complex to serve tea to the devotees attending a tea

Image by : Jitendra Prakash/REUTERS

11/11

Buddhist monks carrying kettles run towards the complex to serve tea to the devotees attending a teaching session being addressed by the Dalai Lama on the second day of the Kalachakra festival in Bodhgaya. The Kalachakra is a 10-day festival comprising Buddha’s teachings and meditations