the festival , which marks the trial , has been met with mesmerising religious parades across five continents .
in a diverse display of traditions , thousands of penitents have marched through streets in hooded cloaks while others have performed alarming religious self-flagellation in demonstrations of commitment to their faith .
in northern philippines , bare-footed men with bloodied backs lie on roads being beaten with sticks and whips in a divisive tradition thought to stem from 13th century roman catholics .