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A photograph of a group of shaved-headed men in white dhotis with red borders sitting cross-legged on woven mats in a hall during a ritual. In the foreground, two men with closed eyes and hands pressed together, one with a white-and-red tilak across his forehead and sandalwood-coloured markings on his arms. Behind them, more men in white sit in rows, and brass oil lamps and small bowls sit on the mats. Hanging yellow and patterned cloth banners decorate the ceiling and a plain-walled building with a doorway opens to palm trees outside. Seated figures on the right wear white and hold beaded malas.

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October 04 20102010-10-04A photograph of a padapuja session in an ashram hall with a long row of men seated cross-legged on woven mats in white dhotis and shawls. In the foreground, a shaved-headed man with a white-and-red-bordered shawl and a tilak on his forehead sits with hands folded; beside him, a man with gold-bordered white garment and a rudraksha mala holds his hands together. Brass vessels and a brass lamp sit on the mat in front. Behind them, more seated men in white garments continue down the hall, and on the right two men in white clothing sit on chairs with hands in namaste. A metal railing runs along the left side, with people seated beyond it and a yellow-draped structure in the background.2010-10-05A seated group of men in white ritual dhotis and shawls with red-bordered edges sit in rows on woven mats in a covered hall during a puja. Foreground figures have white tripundra markings on their foreheads and arms, rudraksha malas around their necks, and palms pressed together in prayer. Brass plates, small brass vessels, a green plate with flowers, and steel bowls sit on the mats in front of them. Behind them, more participants in white and a few women in colourful saris sit along metal railings. A partial yellow cloth is visible at one side of the seated line.2010-09-29A photograph of a long row of young men seated cross-legged on woven mats in a covered hall, all dressed in white dhoti and shoulder cloth with red-bordered cloth. Several have white sacred ash or tilak marks on their foreheads and arms, and some wear rudraksha malas. Brass plates, small oil lamps and metal bowls sit before them on the mats, and the men have their eyes closed in prayer. Behind a metal railing on the left, other seated people watch. Yellow hangings and a plastic chair appear in the background.2010-10-04 +1 copiesA photograph inside a covered ashram hall during a padapuja session. In the foreground, several shaved-headed men in white dhotis and shawls with red and gold borders sit cross-legged on mats, hands held together in prayer or mudra, some wearing rudraksha malas and glasses. Behind them more seated participants in white are visible, and to the right older devotees sit on blue plastic chairs in white clothing. Tall decorative pillars wrapped in orange and yellow fabric with floral and bird motifs hang from the ceiling, and a doorway opens onto palm trees outside.2010-10-05A photograph of a row of men seated cross-legged on woven mats in a covered hall with a concrete floor and pillar-lined walkway. They wear white dhotis with red-bordered edges, rudraksha malas, and white-and-red forehead markings. Several hold small brass items or flowers near brass lamps and small vessels set on the mats, with a pink bowl in the foreground. Orange cloth hangs at the upper right beside a doorway.2010-09-30A seated group of shaven-headed men in white dhotis and shawls with red-striped borders performs a puja on a mat-covered hall floor. Several have white sandalwood or ash markings on their heads and arms, and rudraksha malas hang at their chests. Brass plates, small brass lamps, bells and bowls of offerings sit before them, with a few bowls of food and flowers. One man in a yellow shawl sits at the right with hands folded. Behind them a larger row of white-clad devotees sits in a hall with metal railings and hanging yellow and patterned cloth; a few women in white and red saris sit at the left. No deity image is visible.2010-09-25A photograph of a seated group of shaven-headed men in white dhoti and shawl with red border performing a puja on mats inside a hall. The front man in the centre has white tripundra marks on his forehead and arms, palms pressed together in prayer, and wears a rudraksha mala. Brass plates, small oil lamps, bells, flowers and a bowl of yellow rice sit before them. Behind, a seated audience in white and yellow saris and white clothes watches behind a metal railing, with a red carpet and a plastic container of offerings at left.2010-09-30A photograph of a seated group of devotees in a hall with orange-brick walls and a yellow and multicoloured hanging banner. In the foreground a shaven-headed man in a white dhoti with a red-bordered shawl sits on a woven mat before brass vessels, a plate and a small pot, apparently performing a puja. Behind him rows of men in white dhotis and white shirts, many wearing black and white beaded malas, sit on mats with small oil lamps and brass items in front of them. One man at the right wears an orange robe. A metal railing divides the hall, and more people sit in the background.2010-09-27A seated group of shaven-headed priests in white dhotis and shawls with red and white borders performs a puja on woven mats. Their foreheads and arms are marked with white sandal paste, and they wear rudraksha malas. Brass lamps, small brass vessels, flowers and plastic containers sit in front of them. Behind them, a row of seated devotees, many in white, watches through a metal railing, and a yellow cloth hangs at the top right. The priest at right wears a yellow shawl. Eyes closed, the priests appear absorbed in chanting and ritual offerings.2010-09-25Priests seated cross-legged on orange mats in a hall, eyes closed in meditation or chanting, wearing white dhotis and shawls with rudraksha malas and forehead tilaka. Several in the foreground hold their hands in anjali mudra or rest them on their laps. Brass lamps, small kalasha vessels, a brass bell and offering plates sit in front of them, and a golden peetha and deity murti are visible in the background with colourful garlands. Many more seated devotees fill the room.2010-10-25May 09 20122012-05-09 +4 copies