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Night photograph of a Hindu ritual at an outdoor pandal. In the foreground a shirtless priest in saffron/orange cloth raises his arms toward a large tiered arrangement of kalasha-like pots with green leaves, yellow marigold garlands and offerings. Confetti falls through the air. Behind him, several people in white clothing stand watching. On the right, a decorated altar holds a deity murti and brass lamps, framed by an ornate gold-and-red arch with colourful garland decoration. A large portrait of a man in orange/saffron headwear hangs on the backdrop, with a banner above it. Red and pink drapes and a decorated canopy complete the scene.

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A night-time temple-style ritual at an outdoor pandal. In the foreground, a bare-chested man in orange dhoti and shawl raises his arms, holding a small flowered offering, beside a row of oil lamps on a stand. Behind him, a line of white-clad devotees stands under pink and red draped cloth. In the centre, a tiered pyramid of small woven baskets holding green leaves, fruit and white flowers is arranged around a central deity murti with yellow marigold garlands. At right, a golden arch framed in red, white and green striped cloth surrounds a shrine with additional murtis on a red-draped platform. A large banner at top right shows a portrait of a smiling man in a red turban, with partly legible printed text reading Maha Kumbhabhishekam and 1st January 2007 at Nithyanandapeetam, Bidadi.2006-12-22A night-time photograph of a temple ritual under a open-sided canopy strung with green leaves and confetti in the air. In the centre, a woman in an orange and red sari with raised hands stands before a decorated altar with a golden arched frame, small deity murti, and a large heap of offerings, fruit, flowers and kalasha-style pots arranged on a cloth-covered platform. To the left, two men in white with orange shawls hold a lit oil lamp on a tray. A banner behind the altar shows a portrait of a man in an orange turban and the words Maha Kumbhabhishekam. Two other men in white stand at the back. Approximately four to six people are visible.2006-12-22A night ritual scene under a pandal at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi. In the foreground a figure in an orange-red garment with a red cloth wrap raises both arms beside a fire pit where flames and smoke rise. Behind a row of decorated kalasha pots with yellow marigold garlands stands a golden arched frame and several small deity murtis on an altar. On the right a banner shows a portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" wearing an orange turban, beside printed text about a Maha kumbabhisheka. Confetti or flower petals drift through the smoke. Small oil lamps and a silver vessel sit near the kalasha display, and a few people stand at the left edge.2006-12-22Night ritual at an open-air pandal decorated with coloured streamers and umbrellas. In the foreground a woman in an orange sari with a red border stands with palms pressed together in prayer beside a square yagna fire pit, where a flame and smoke rise. Behind her, several men in white and saffron-coloured clothing stand near brass vessels and lamps. To the right, a large display of kalasha pots wrapped in white mesh and marigold garlands sits before a decorated arch with a golden and red frame and small deity murtis. A banner reads Maha Kumbabhisheka on 1st January 2007 at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi, with a portrait labelled Paramahamsa Nithyananda.2006-12-22A night photograph of a ritual at an outdoor pandal in Bidadi. A bare-backed priest with a saffron-and-red dhoti stands at the left edge in the foreground, facing a raised square platform of white block bases, with a sand-filled yajna or homa pit, many kalasha pots arranged in tiered rows with yellow flower garlands, fruit offerings and brass vessels. Behind, a large banner reads Maha Kumbhabhisheka on 1 January 2007 at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi. Several white-clad devotees with folded hands and attendants in white stand in the background. The altar holds deity murti set within a golden arch decorated with lights, flanked by lamps and ornate canopies.2006-12-22Night photograph of an outdoor ritual at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi. A man in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl with long dark hair and a gold necklace holds a silver plate of flaming camphor aarti toward a decorated altar. Behind him, figures in white clothes stand watching. The altar has a gold arched frame with red and white striped garland, several metal deity murtis including Ganesha, and a seated figure on a red-draped platform. In front, rows of kalasha pots wrapped in fibre netting and yellow marigold garlands sit on a raised platform, with fruit bowls and brass vessels nearby. A banner above reads Maha Rathotsavam on 1st January 2007, 6 am at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi, Off Mysore Road, Bangalore Dist., with a portrait labelled Paramahamsa Nithyananda and Sri Anandeshwar.2006-12-22December 25 20062006-12-25A night photograph of a ritual at an outdoor pandal. A priest in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl with a red border stands at left holding a metal dish with a burning flame, his long dark hair swept back. Ahead is a deity murti set within a gold arch edged with red and green, flanked by smaller metal figures. In front, a large tiered arrangement of coconuts and offerings sits on a pale platform with marigold garlands, fruit and brass vessels scattered around. Men in white clothes stand behind. A printed banner reads Sri Anandeshwar Temple Maha kumbhabhisheka on 1st January 2007, 6 am at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi, with a portrait labelled Paramahamsa Nithyananda above. Blue and red draped cloth frames the stage.2006-12-22Night photograph of a temple ritual on an outdoor stage at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi. A man with long dark hair and a bare upper body, wearing an orange-and-red dhoti-style cloth and an orange wrap, stands holding a silver tray with a lit flame while a kalasha-like arrangement of brass pots and flowers stands before him. A kneeling man in white clothes with an orange shawl holds his hands toward the flame. Behind them a banner reads Sri Anandeshwar Temple Maha kumbabhisheka on 1st January 2007, 6 am at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi, with a portrait labelled Paramahamsa Nithyananda. A golden arch frames gold and silver deity murtis on a decorated altar, and fruit, flowers and metal vessels sit on the stage. Several people in white clothes stand in the background under a canopy.2006-12-22Night photograph of an outdoor ritual at an open-air pavilion with draped red and white fabric and colourful umbrellas overhead. On the right, a figure with curly grey hair wears a white garment with an orange shawl and faces the altar. In the centre, a woman in an orange robe stands with raised arms at a raised platform holding a brass plate and a dome of banana leaves and garlands. The altar holds fruit, a bowl of fruit, brass vessels, flower garlands, a decorated kalasha-like arrangement and a wooden throne-like seat. A row of people in white robes and orange shawls stands at left with hands folded. A printed banner at top reads Sri Anandeshwar Yantra Maha kumbabhishekam on 1st January 2007 at Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi, with a portrait of a smiling man in an orange turban and a phone number.2006-12-22December 30 20062006-12-30Dim photograph of a night ritual in a hall filled with smoke. In the foreground, a figure with long dark hair and a saffron-orange shawl stands with back to the camera, raising a lit oil lamp or flame toward a shrine. Behind, several people in white clothes stand near a red-and-white draped canopy. On the right, a decorated deity murti sits inside an arched frame with a red border, surrounded by tiered rows of small brass or clay lamps and marigold garlands. A rectangular pit lined with petals lies in front. A large portrait of a man in an orange turban is on the back wall, and a banner with printed text hangs above it. The scene looks like a puja with aarti.2007-01-01