Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Photo of a ritual inside a temple hall with a row of seated devotees behind a metal railing, many holding lit oil lamps. In the foreground, several men in saffron-orange robes sit cross-legged on a woven mat, one raising a lamp and another holding a small brass vessel. Brass plates with flower petals, lamps and offerings sit on the mat in front of them. A man in a saffron robe with a rudraksha mala sits at the centre, wearing a wristwatch, and gestures with his hand. Men in white dhotis with sacred threads and devotees in white and saffron stand and sit along the railing. A gold-carved ceremonial seat is visible at the lower right. The scene suggests an aarti or puja performed by sannyasi-clad priests.

More like this

Open the gallery
September 17 20102010-09-17A photograph of a group chanting ritual in a covered hall with a red-and-cream floor and many people seated on mats. In the foreground two men in saffron-orange robes sit cross-legged, one holding a small brass bell and the other a bell and an open book with a gold necklace. Plates of offerings, bowls of red flowers, rice and small lamps sit on brass trays before them. Behind them rows of people in white dhotis and cream shawls with tilak marks hold small bells and perform puja, while others in yellow and orange sit further back and a metal railing separates the rows. Lamps and yellow-orange banners hang from the ceiling. Several dozen people are visible.2010-11-09A seated group of priests performs a puja in a hall with red walls and colourful woven banners hanging from the ceiling. In the foreground, several men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas and tilak on their foreheads sit on mats, holding small brass lamps or bells before brass plates, flower offerings and fruit. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and white shawls, some with bare upper bodies and tilak marks, also hold brass vessels and lamps. A laptop and a printed booklet lie on a cloth at left, and many more devotees sit along the railing in the background among small oil lamps.A seated group ritual in an ashram hall with rows of men in white dhotis and shawls bordered in red, many with white and red tilaka on their foreheads and rudraksha malas. Several hold small oil lamps or flames while chanting, others have hands folded in prayer. In the foreground a bald man in orange saffron robes with gold necklace sits with palms joined, and beside him a man in white holds a lamp. Brass pots and blue plastic containers stand on mats, with metal railings and orange-and-yellow ceremonial cloth hangings above. Many more people are seated in the background.2010-10-30 +2 copiesA large group of women seated on the floor in an ashram hall, dressed in saffron-orange saris with gold borders and rudraksha malas. Many hold small brass oil lamps with lit flames, some with palms pressed together in prayer, some with eyes closed. Several have white vertical forehead markings. Background shows more seated devotees in orange and maroon, a red-draped stage area, and a plastic water bottle and small brass vessels in the foreground. Appears to be a lamp-lighting or aarti moment in a group ritual.2013-06-14A photograph of a large group of sannyasis and devotees performing a puja in an open hall. In the foreground, several monks in saffron/orange robes with rudraksha malas sit cross-legged on mats, holding small brass bells and spoons over brass plates of offerings, fruit and flowers. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and shirts, some with forehead tilak and rudraksha malas, hold brass implements and sit before trays of offerings. Brass lamps and kalasha-style vessels sit on red cloth, and a metal railing separates the front from seated women in saffron and yellow saris in the background. Colourful hanging fabric panels decorate the walls.2010-10-31 +1 copiesFebruary 15 20132013-02-15May 27 20122012-05-27A photograph of a seated puja or aarti at an indoor gathering. In the foreground, a man in saffron-orange robes with a red-purple border and a rudraksha mala holds a lit oil lamp in one hand and a small brass bell in the other, with a wristwatch visible. Beside him, another man in orange robes with a red-purple border holds a lit oil lamp aloft. Behind them, people in white dhotis and white shirts with rudraksha malas hold small lit lamps, and brass pots and vessels with flower petals sit on a red cloth in the lower left. Metal railings separate the front row from the seated congregation.2010-10-30A group of saffron-clad devotees sit on a floor mat in a ritual setting lined with rows of oil lamps and a metal railing. In the foreground, a man in orange robes with rudraksha beads and gold wristbands gestures with one raised hand while chanting. Beside him, a younger man in orange with a rudraksha mala holds a small brass bell and ritual object. Brass plates, small bowls and a open notebook sit on the orange cloth. Behind them, men and women in white dhotis and saris with red-and-white borders sing and hold their hands in ritual gestures. A microphone and camera tripod appear at the left edge.2010-11-07A row of men seated on the floor in a temple hall performs a puja with ringing handbells and incense sticks. Front centre, a man in orange saffron robes and rudraksha beads holds a bell in one hand and an incense stick in the other. Beside him, another man in orange robes with glasses and beads holds a bell. Behind them, men in white dhotis and white shirts with white tilaka markings on their foreheads and arms hold bells and incense. Brass plates with offerings, small oil lamps, flowers and fruit are set on the floor in front of them. A golden ornate throne or peetha stands at the right edge, and a curtain hangs behind.2011-08-04A row of seated devotees in a temple hall performs a ritual puja with oil lamps and brass implements. The foreground man wears an orange turban, rudraksha mala beads and a white dhoti with gold border, holding a small lamp and a brass bell-like object. Men beside him, bare-chested with white sacred markings on their bodies and white dhotis, hold lamps and offerings. Small flames and a brass lamp sit on a low mat in front of them. Count of visible people is about six.2017-01-07