Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a padapuja-style ritual on an orange cloth. A bald man in white clothing lies prostrate on the floor, arms outstretched, touching a wooden stand, with a small white cloth nearby. Three women in red and maroon silk saris sit cross-legged on a floral-strewn mat, holding green fruits and pink lotus flowers, and smiling. A fourth young woman in a red sari and pearl necklace sits at the right edge. Behind them, a large image of a goddess with a red face, golden crown and garlands is visible, along with white-robed attendants standing at the upper left. The prostration is performed by a man in white, with the visible body position but no clear identification of a person from appearance.

More like this

Open the gallery
October 16 20102010-10-16Evening photograph of a ritual scene on an orange cloth. In the foreground, a man in white dhoti and shawl lies prostrate face-down with his arms outstretched, a padapuja-style obeisance. Behind him, three women in red and maroon silk saris with gold borders sit on a floral-decorated mat, smiling and holding green coconuts and pink flowers. Two men in white ritual clothes stand at the left holding plates. At the upper right, a decorated deity murti in red and gold garments with garlands is visible. Small lamps and flower offerings surround the setting.2010-10-16Evening photograph of a ritual at a temple setting. In the foreground, a shaved-headed man in white ritual clothes lies prostrate with arms outstretched on an orange cloth, flowers scattered around him. Three women in deep maroon and gold-bordered saris sit behind him on a floral-patterned mat, one in the centre holding a green coconut and pink flower, others holding green coconuts. Behind them, standing figures in white dhotis and an ornate deity murti draped with garlands and gold ornaments are visible. Lamps glow in the dim background. The prostrate man shows no distinctive a person cues such as a crown, saffron or ornate clothing, so his identity is unsure.2010-10-16A night ritual photograph at an ashram courtyard before a decorated deity murti, with a large clay figure of a goddess with a golden crown and a red-faced figure beside her. Lamps and strings of red lights hang above. In the foreground a man in white dhoti with a red border lies prostrate on an orange cloth in front of a brass plate of red apples. Behind him three women in red and maroon saris sit with offerings and flowers, one in a dark red sari holding a fruit. Several men in white dhotis stand in the background, some holding mala beads, with a few wearing ceremonial necklaces. A small wooden stand and offerings lie to the right. Visible persons: about ten, which suggests a 6-20 count.2010-10-16A photograph of a Navaratri puja at night inside a decorated temple hall. Four women sit on an orange cloth with flower petals scattered around them, holding red flowers or offerings. The woman at left wears a maroon sari, the centre woman a dark maroon sari with gold border, and the woman at right a red sari; the girl at far right wears a red sari. Behind them stand large deity murtis, including a Ganesha figure with red body and a goddess murti with raised arms and ornate silver decoration. A man in white dhoti with a gold-beaded necklace stands at left, and men in white garments stand in the background. In the foreground a man in a white striped shirt bows over a brass plate of red fruit, with a wooden stand and ritual items nearby.2010-10-16A man in white dhoti and shawl with maroon borders lies prostrate in full-length obeisance on an orange cloth at night. Behind him, several women in maroon and red silk saris with gold borders sit holding flowers and offerings, and standing men in white dhotis and shawls with rudraksha-style necklaces watch with hands folded. A brass plate holds red fruits. Strings of red fairy lights hang above, and at the right, decorated deity murtis, including a pink Ganesha figure and a goddess figure with white flower garlands, stand under floral decoration.2010-10-16Night photo at an outdoor Navaratri puja. In the foreground a man in white dhoti and shawl lies prostrate face-down on an orange cloth mat in full obeisance. Beside him a brass plate holds red apples. Behind, four women in deep maroon and red saris with gold borders sit on a mat holding flowers and fruit; one smiles and another wears a white-and-gold dupatta. Standing white-clad devotees, some with rudraksha malas, watch along the left side. On the right, a deity murti with a decorated golden backdrop and small ganesha figures is lit by string lights overhead. The prostrate man is a devotee, and no figure visibly matches the a person appearance cues.2010-10-16A photograph of a devotional puja at night. A man in white dhoti and shawl lies prostrate on an orange cloth, arms stretched forward in a full padapuja-style prostration. Four women sit on a floral-strewn mat to the right, wearing saris in maroon, deep red, and gold-bordered tones; each holds a pink lotus flower and a green fruit in cupped hands. Behind them stands a large deity murti adorned with garlands, and a brass lamp and offering plates sit on a cloth at right. Several white-clad men stand at the upper left in the background.2010-10-16A night-time outdoor ritual at an ashram. In the foreground a man in plain white dhoti with maroon border lies prostrate on an orange-red cloth, arms stretched forward, in padapuja-style obeisance. A brass plate of red fruits sits before him. Behind, three women in saris, one in maroon-and-gold with red bangles, sit on the mat holding fruit; a standing woman in a red-and-gold sari is also present. On the left, a row of men in white dhotis and white shirts with rudraksha malas stand with hands folded. Behind them, large decorated deity murtis with ganesha-like figure in red and gold garlands and a goddess figure adorned with white flowers and gold. Strings of red lights hang overhead.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16A man lies prostrate on an orange-red cloth in front of a decorated shrine at night, wearing a white dhoti and a white upper cloth, with his arms stretched forward and head down. Four women kneel to the right in saris, one in maroon, one in deep red, one in red with gold border, and one in white with red, each holding a small fruit or offering. Behind them stand a large Ganesha murti and a goddess murti with garlands and gold ornaments, framed by white floral decoration and red lights. Brass plates hold red apples, marigold petals and brass lamps are scattered on the floor. Several white-clad people stand in the background at left.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16