Nepal, March 9 -- In Hindu temples, bells are often rung to announce the arrival of the devotee or wake up the deity so that prayers can be heard and devotion duly noted. The sounds of bells, it is believed, can help remove negative energy. Its vibration can calm us and help us rid ourselves of sadness.

In many cultures, the ringing of bells can signify death or serve as a call to service or prayer. In Ernest Hemingway's classic novel For Whom the Bell Tolls, published in 1940, the reference to church bells announcing a death or a funeral provides a backdrop for an exploration of humanity's interconnectedness. For centuries, the sounds, echoes and vibrations of ringing bells have inspired meditations on war, peace, love, the end, the beg...