Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of an outdoor fire-walking ritual pit: a rectangular trench filled with glowing embers and ash-grey stones, bordered by wooden stakes and white rangoli kolam designs with pink and white floral patterns on the ground. A large crowd of devotees dressed mostly in white, with some in colourful saris, stands in a wide semicircle around the pit beside a red-walled building with a green roof and a red flag on a pole. On the left foreground, a figure in an orange-saffron robe and orange head wrap sits on an ornate cushioned seat draped with a red cloth, facing the pit. Palm trees and foliage surround the open dirt courtyard.

More like this

Open the gallery
Outdoor photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an ashram in a sandy courtyard. A large crowd of devotees dressed mostly in white stands and sits along the background, with some in orange and saffron. In the foreground, a seated figure in orange robes and an orange head wrap sits on a patterned cushion over a red mat on the left, appearing to be a sannyasi or priest rather than an identifiable individual. A standing man in white clothing faces a rectangular fire pit filled with grey stones, while a man in a white shirt holding a camera bag stands to the right. A colourful rangoli mandala decorates the ground in front of the pit. A red-roofed building with a green roof and a flag appear in the background among palm trees.2005-12-31Outdoor ritual scene at an ashram-style compound with dry earth ground, palm trees and a red-walled building with a green roof. A large crowd of people dressed mostly in white stands and sits in front of a shallow rectangular fire pit edged with wooden railings, where a fire walk appears to be prepared. Near the front right, a seated figure in orange robes and an orange head wrap sits on an ornate brown cushioned seat on a red mat, facing the pit. A decorated float or chariot with orange and gold draping and a truck stands at the back right, and a colourful rangoli design is laid on the ground. A red flag flies on a pole at the centre left.2005-12-31Outdoor photo of a large crowd seated on bare red-brown earth beside a fire-walking pit, with a mound of dug soil and wooden poles in the foreground. Most people wear white and cream clothing; several women in the left foreground wear white saris with cream shawls, and a woman on the left raises one arm. Behind them a row of men in white shirts and dhotis stands near a small red building with a green corrugated roof, under palm and leafy trees. A child in an orange-and-brown striped shirt sits in the front.2005-12-31Outdoor ritual scene at a dirt-ground ashram site. A seated figure on the left wears an orange saffron head wrap and orange robe, sitting on a leopard-print cushioned seat over a red mat, facing away from the camera toward a sunken rectangular fire pit lined with grey stones and bordered by white chalk lines. A large multicoloured rangoli kolam with pink, orange and white petals is drawn on the ground in front of the pit. Behind the pit a crowd of devotees in white clothes stands and sits, with a few in pink, orange and yellow saris. A small red building with a green roof and palm trees stand in the background, and a man in a light shirt and white dhoti stands at the right edge. The figure in orange is most.2005-12-31Outdoor photograph of a fire-walking pit prepared in dry earth. A shallow rectangular trench is filled with grey-white stones, bordered by lines of white dots and a drawn lotus-like motif at its near end. Wooden poles tied with rope fence the pit. Behind it a large crowd of devotees, mostly dressed in white, sits and stands on the ground. A small red building with a green corrugated roof, palm trees and a flag pole stand in the background, with a few brightly coloured tents or canopies at right. Several figures in white robes and saffron-trimmed clothing are seated near the front, though none can be identified with confidence.2005-12-31Outdoor fire-walking ritual at an ashram courtyard of packed dirt. A shirtless figure in orange cloth stands barefoot at the centre, facing a shallow trench of glowing embers and flame, with a pool of water-like liquid to the left. Behind and beside the fire pit, a row of seated devotees in white ritual clothes sit on blue mats, along with several men in white dhotis and orange shawls standing at the left edge. A large framed portrait on the white building wall shows a figure in an orange turban and orange robes, labelled with no readable name. Stone piles, a red post and a small shrine structure appear in the background.2007-02-14Outdoor photograph of a ceremonial gathering under a canopy of red and pink drapes. In the centre, a man in orange robes with a long white-and-red garland stands with palms pressed together, beside a fire pit set in a low stone-edged platform decorated with flower garlands, marigolds and small metal oil lamps. A white ornate parasol stands behind him. Around him, many people in white dhotis and white kurtas stand with hands folded in namaskar, and a few women wear white saris and one girl wears yellow. A white-and-gold chair is placed at the right edge of the platform. Palm fronds, a stone gateway and a striped mat appear in the background.2006-12-30Outdoor photograph of a fire-walking ritual at a village roadside. A shallow rectangular pit of glowing grey-white embers lies in the middle of the dirt path, with a young woman in a white sari-style garment walking across it barefoot while others follow. Men and boys in white dhotis and white shirts line the sides, one wearing a rudraksha mala, and a bare-footed devotee in an orange cloth stands at the far side. Behind them a crowd of onlookers, many in white, stands near an orange-walled building with a green roof, palm trees and a saffron flag on a pole. At the right edge a decorated procession float or palanquin with colourful canopy is visible.2005-12-31Outdoor procession on a dirt path lined with palm trees and a low white-roofed building. Many people in white dhotis and shirts, some wearing lanyards, walk and stand along the route; a drummer beats a large drum at left. At right, a woman in saffron robes sits on a striped mat holding a tall gold staff with a fringed orange canopy, while another saffron-clad figure sits beside her. Women in yellow and green saris stand near the edge.2008-12-31December 31 20082008-12-31Outdoor ceremony among palm and shade trees, with a large crowd of devotees dressed in white dhotis, mundus and saris standing at left and centre. In the foreground at right, a person with long dark hair in orange robes sits on a white cushion with an orange-bordered cloth, seen from behind. Men in white and a drummer holding a drum stand along a freshly dug dirt path, and several people in orange and white attend nearby. A small corrugated-roof structure and a red-and-white patterned mat appear in the scene. The seated figure in orange has long hair and swept-back appearance cues, but the view from behind is too limited to confirm identity, so the a person candidate is uncertain.2008-12-31Outdoor photograph at dusk of a firewalking ritual at an ashram ground. A long, narrow trench of glowing embers and ash runs across the foreground of red earth. A barefoot figure in saffron-orange robes stands at the right with hands pressed together in front of the fire, holding a trident-like staff. Beside them, a figure in white robes and an orange shawl holds a ceremonial staff. A crowd of about thirty devotees in white and pastel clothes, including many children, stands behind the trench. A large banner on a white wall shows a portrait of a figure in an orange turban and saffron garment. A blue tarpaulin lies at left.2007-02-14