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A photograph of a seated group of bare-chested male devotees at a Shiva Deeksha initiation ritual. The central man, in the foreground, has a white sacred thread across his chest and a red-and-gold pendant necklace, and he holds a small green leaf or card while looking down in prayer. Behind and around him, other men with sacred ash marks on their foreheads and bodies sit with hands folded or eyes closed, some wearing white dhotis and beaded rudraksha-style necklaces. The scene has a warm, dim, devotional atmosphere.

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December 10 20172017-12-10February 22 20172017-02-22April 08 20172017-04-08A dense group of young men and boys sit cross-legged on the floor, bare-chested, wearing white dhoti-style cloths and rudraksha or bead necklaces with pendants. Many have white sacred ash or painted markings on their chests and foreheads. The central boy in front, with a red tilak on his forehead, holds small wooden objects in his hands and appears to chant with eyes half-open, while others sit with eyes closed in meditation. Pink and red cloths lie beneath them on the ground. Several people fill the frame.2017-04-08 +1 copiesMarch 06 20162016-03-06 +1 copiesDense group of bare-chested men seated cross-legged on mats during a Shiva Deeksha initiation at Nithyananda Peetham. Many have white sacred ash markings on their chests, arms and foreheads, white sacred threads over their shoulders and pendant necklaces, and wear white dhotis. Several hold thin wooden sticks or implements in their hands and look downward in concentration. Participants are seated in rows, and the scene conveys a collective ritual sitting.2017-02-22April 03 20172017-04-03November 26 20172017-11-26A photograph of a group of shirtless men seated in a row during a ritual, with white sacred ash marks on their foreheads, chests and arms, and white sacred threads over their shoulders. The central man, wearing glasses and a red rudraksha mala with a pendant, sits with eyes lowered and hands near a small object on a cloth. Others around him sit with eyes closed, some chanting, dressed in white and yellow cloths. The setting appears to be an indoor hall with white walls and a blurred background.2017-02-26A photograph of a large group of bare-chested male initiates seated cross-legged on orange cloth during a deeksha initiation. They wear white dhotis with yellow-and-orange borders and white sacred thread across the chest, many with white ash markings and red tilak on their foreheads. Several wear rudraksha mala and pendant necklaces. The man in the centre foreground holds his hands in a mudra and wears glasses and a rudraksha mala. A younger man on the right holds a small printed card. Behind them, colourful hanging decorations and a bright indoor hall are visible. No single presenter's identity is established from appearance, and no visible name is printed in the frame.2018-01-13December 02 20162016-12-02May 24 20172017-05-24