Catholic devotees jostle with each other as they try to touch the Black Nazarene statue. AFP

Thousands pile into Manila for Black Nazarene parade - in pictures



The streets of Manila in the Philippines saw an influx of hundreds of thousands of Catholics on Wednesday for the annual procession of the Black Nazarene.

The event sees devotees - who go barefoot - trying to catch a glimpse of the historic statue of Jesus of Nazareth, with many keen to touch the effigy if they can get close enough.

They believe getting near the piece can cure illness or bring good luck.

The Black Nazarene was originally carved in Mexico and arrived in the Philippines in the 17th Century.

It survived a fire on board the ship transporting it and is now considered one of the country's most revered devotional objects.

The statue spends most of the year in a church in the city's Quiapo district, but every January it is taken on a seven kilometre tour around Manila's streets.

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