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Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual pit at a temple ground. Glowing embers and grey ash fill a narrow trench in the foreground, bordered by bamboo poles and rough wooden railings. A crowd of about twenty people in white dhotis, white shirts and white sarees stands behind the barrier, several with hands raised or folded, while one man in a light tan shirt bends near the pit edge. A lit kalasha-like shrine with orange flames and a bright lamp sits in the background beneath a row of strung pennant flags and palm fronds. Smoke rises from the fire.

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Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual pit in open ground. Glowing embers and flames fill a long rectangular trench lined with earth and bordered by bamboo poles. Behind the pit, a crowd of men and some women in white dhotis, white shirts and white sarees stands watching, several holding bamboo or wooden rods along the barrier. In the background a lit tower or pillar stands before a small illuminated shrine with a deity murti, a palm tree behind, and strings of bunting overhead. Several dozen people are visible.2006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual. A bed of glowing embers and ash runs down the centre of a dirt pathway, bordered by wooden rails. In the foreground a man in a white shirt and white dhoti walks along the path, wearing a pendant on a cord and holding a folded white cloth. Behind him, devotees in white clothes line both sides of the rails, and a lit torch or lamp-topped structure glows at the far end under a tree.2006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking pit, a long trench filled with glowing charcoal and embers, bordered by bamboo poles. Behind the barrier, many men in white dhotis and white shirts stand and sit in darkness, lit by a single bright lamp above. On the right, two drums with decorative red and white fabric are played by drummers in white. A small lit lamp or altar structure appears at the top centre. A blue bucket sits at the lower left. The scene resembles a fire-walking ritual gathering.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual pit: a long trench of glowing charcoal and embers with smoke rising, lined on both sides by bamboo poles. Many people in white clothes crowd the edges, some dressed in white dhotis and shirts, with drummers at right playing large drums in light-coloured clothing. A lantern hangs above the pit near a palm tree. Dry straw covers the earth banks beside the pit.2006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at a temple ground. A glowing bed of embers runs down a dirt lane between bamboo barriers. Devotees in white dhotis and shirts line both sides, some holding the bamboo rails. A young girl in a patterned dress walks across the embers. On the right, a man in white clothing wears an orange shawl over his shoulder and walks along the path. A lit lamp and a tall structure appear in the far background against the dark sky.2006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual pit at an outdoor temple area. A long shallow trench of glowing embers and a burning flame sits in the centre, bordered by two rows of bamboo poles tied together. Many devotees dressed in white clothes and white dhotis stand on both sides, watching and some with hands folded in prayer. Two figures in saffron/orange robes stand near the pit, one at centre-left in orange and one at centre-right in a white dhoti with an orange shawl. Behind them a lit ceremonial structure with a tall pole and a lamp is decorated with a strand of blue and white bunting. Dark trees and night sky complete the scene.2006-12-30