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Night-time outdoor ritual on bare sandy ground. A long-haired man in orange robes and a gold-beaded necklace crouches low over a large white-green coconut, hands on it, as a small flame flickers at the lower edge of the frame. Behind him a crowd of about twenty devotees in white dhotis and kurtas, many wearing yellow shawls and rudraksha malas, stands watching. A decorated multicoloured umbrella with tassels and a tall gold staff rise above the group, and a man in a white and yellow shawl at the right edge holds a long gold-toned staff. A camera operator is visible at upper right.

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Night outdoor photo on sandy ground. A long-haired bearded man in an orange saffron robe with a gold necklace bends forward, facing a broken white coconut on a stone slab. A red cloth bundle with gold trim lies in the foreground, and a small oil lamp flame glows at right. Behind him stand about a dozen men in white dhotis and kurtas with yellow shoulder cloths and rudraksha malas, watching. A multicoloured fringed umbrella and a golden staff rise in the background, and a cameraman is visible at the right edge.2010-02-12Night outdoor procession on sandy ground with a large ornate umbrella overhead and a videographer filming. A bearded man in orange-saffron robes with a long orange-beaded necklace carries a large round silver-grey vessel with green leaves at the center, walking barefoot. Around him, men in white dhotis and white kurtas wear yellow shawls and rudraksha malas. On the right, a man in orange clothing holds a bell, and another man in white with yellow shawl holds a brass plate of offerings. A small flame burns on the ground at lower right beside a stone. Dark structures are visible in the background. a person appearance is uncertain; the robed carrier shows only orange clothing and beads, without distinctive crown or long swept hair.2010-02-12Outdoor procession scene on a dirt path beside palm trees and a thatched hut. A central figure in flowing orange robes, with long dark hair, a gold-coloured beaded necklace and a bare upper body, stands beneath a multicoloured ceremonial umbrella with fringe. Around him, devotees in white dhotis and white kurtas, many wearing orange shawls, stand in a semicircle. A man kneels in white in the foreground, and another devotee in white bends to the ground at right, holding a small object. A trident is visible at left. Several devotees are dressed in white with orange shawls.2007-12-23Outdoor procession on bare ground with a multicoloured canopy umbrella (red, yellow, blue and green panels with lotus motifs) and gilded staves carried overhead. Central figure in saffron robes wears a long white and multicoloured flower garland and a gold necklace, walking barefoot. Men in saffron and white robes with gold necklaces surround him; a woman in white with a yellow shawl holds a silver tray of fruit, and a man in white with a gold necklace extends a hand toward it. A camera operator stands at left filming. Behind, a crowd gathers under a grey sky with trees and low buildings in the distance.2009-12-23Night outdoor photograph of a groundbreaking or foundation ritual on bare red earth. A central figure in an orange saffron robe with an orange head wrap and a multicoloured flower garland drives a long metal rod or staff into the soil with both hands. Around him stand a crowd of men and women in white dhotis, shirts and saris, many with palms pressed together in namaskar. A bearded man in white with an orange shawl stands to the left, and a man on the right wears a rudraksha mala and a rainbow rosette badge. A tray of yellow and orange flowers is held at the left edge, and a dark cloth canopy with a banana leaf appears at upper right. Roughly 25 physical people are visible.2007-08-17Night-time outdoor ground-breaking ceremony on bare red earth beneath a green canopy. A central figure in a saffron-orange robe and matching orange head wrap stoops to press a wooden stake or rod into the soil, wearing a long multicolour flower garland and a gold necklace. Around them a crowd in white dhotis and white shirts stands with palms pressed together in prayer. A young man at left in white holds a brass tray of yellow flowers and leaves. A man at right in white holds a brass lamp with a lit flame. Several devotees wear saffron shawls and rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, and some wear round rosette badges.2007-08-17Outdoor photo at dusk of a bare-earth ground at a ceremony. A central figure in an orange-red turban and matching orange-red robe, wearing a white, pink and purple flower garland and a gold pendant necklace, stands barefoot holding a coconut while a man in white shirt and white dhoti bends to pour or prepare offerings. A brass trident stands upright in the ground beside him, with several halved coconuts and yellow turmeric-coloured pieces scattered on the soil. A crowd of men in white shirts and white dhotis, some wearing yellow and red ribbon badges, stands around watching, and a kneeling man with hands pressed together sits at right. Colourful striped tents appear in the background under a cloudy sky.2007-08-17Night outdoor photograph on bare red earth at a ceremony. A central figure wears an orange turban, an orange wrap over the body, a multicoloured garland of white flowers with pink, purple and green bands, and a gold necklace, and holds a long metal staff with a trident-like top. Beside him on the left, a bearded man in white with an orange shawl gestures with open hands. Behind them, a crowd of men in white dhotis and shirts stands close together, some with name badges and a rosette. A striped tent canopy and a banana leaf are visible at upper right. At lower right, a tray holds coconuts, a small bowl and red items. A small girl with a red bindi stands among the crowd.2007-08-17Outdoor temple procession on a dusty ground in front of a brick building with a flat roof. A figure in saffron-orange robes with long dark hair and a crouching posture breaks coconut halves on a stone, while a red-and-gold decorated pole or palanquin pole with yellow marigold garlands lies on the ground. Devotees in white dhotis and white shirts with orange or yellow shawls stand in a line, some holding a drum and a tall orange flag. A large colourful parasol with tassels is held overhead at left. A woman in orange sari stands at right, and a man in white robes with an orange shawl stands nearby, with a person filming on a camera at right edge.2009-12-27Outdoor photograph on bare dirt ground near a white building and a silver car. A bare-chested man in orange dhoti with long dark hair, rudraksha-style beads and gold necklaces stands centre, holding a tall golden staff with a trident-like top. Around him, men in white kurtas and orange shawls stand and hold staffs and a bundled orange cloth; two men in white crouch digging or planting in the soil at the front. A trident-topped gold staff is planted in the ground. Tree line and red flowers appear in the background. a person candidate is present with distinctive long hair, gold adornments and saffron dhoti, presiding over a ground-breaking or planting-type ritual with attendants.2007-12-23Night outdoor ceremony on bare red earth with a crowd of men and women in white dhotis and shirts. In the centre, a figure in saffron-orange robes and an orange turban, wearing a long garland of white and multicoloured flowers, bends forward holding a small brass or metal vessel over a stake or post in the ground. A bald man in white dhoti and a white shirt holds an offering tray with fruit and a coconut beside them. To the right, an older man in white with a red-and-gold circular badge kneels to touch the ground, and another devotee stands with palms pressed together. A small flame burns at the right edge beside a brass lamp, and a green-and-blue canopy is visible above.2007-08-17Outdoor procession on dry, dusty ground with a small crowd in orange, white and yellow clothing. A man in the centre wears a large white and multicoloured flower garland and an orange garment, smiling and walking with a brass pot offering. Beside him a woman in white with a yellow shawl carries a brass vessel with a green leaf and flowers. To the right, a man in white dhoti and orange shawl with a rudraksha mala holds a brass vessel and a handbell. Ornate umbrellas with embroidered red, yellow and blue canopies and gold-tipped poles rise above the crowd. Two men on the left in orange robes hold tall golden staffs topped with ornaments. Another person on the left wears an orange garment and a long line of beads. Behind them, many devotees and ashram members in white and yellow fill a dusty field, with trees and a utility pole in the background.2009-12-23