Household shrines are common in homes across Asia, where the day begins with offerings for the gods. Sculptures of Buddha are placed at raised level to indicate that he is removed from ordinary people and to draw the eyes to Buddha’s hands, which are carefully placed to signify composure. Hands are also a focus of Hindu statues : placed together they signify prayer, and when held upwards they represent peace. Today, carvers at pilgrimage sites offer replicas of temple statues , and it is often possible to discover something that truly recalls the spirit of the originals.