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Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual in a dirt pit lined with glowing embers and ash. A woman in a magenta blouse and orange skirt with an orange shawl and a beaded necklace walks barefoot across the coals. Beside the pit, a man in white dhoti and shirt walks along the edge, and another man in white stands at the front right, watching. Rows of onlookers in white and colourful saris and dhotis line both sides, held back by bamboo poles, and drummers play at the right. A photographer with a camera stands at the left edge. Lit by electric lights against the dark sky.

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Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual on a dirt path lined with bamboo poles. A woman in a peach-pink sari walks across a long pit of glowing embers while devotees in white dhotis and shirts stand along both sides. A bald older man in white faces the pit from the foreground. Spectators, many in colourful saris, press behind the bamboo barriers, and a blue bucket sits at the left edge. The white-clad figures in the background are devotees and organisers, not identifiable as a specific individual.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual with a long trench of glowing embers in the foreground. A woman in a pink sari walks barefoot across the coals with her hands pressed together in prayer. White-clad devotees and men in white dhotis line both sides behind wooden stakes and rope barriers, with a crowd of spectators beyond. A blue bucket sits at the left edge near the trench. In the background a decorated palanquin or ratha with a lit deity murti and a kalasha rises above the crowd under strings of pennant bunting and a white canopy. Two men in white stand near the front right edge, one looking toward the walker.2006-12-30Night-time fire-walking ritual in an open outdoor ground. A woman in a pale pink sari walks barefoot across a long trench of glowing grey-white embers, lined with dark earth. Around the pit, a dense crowd of men and women in white dhotis and white kurtas stands behind wooden poles and ropes that hold the crowd back. A man in white with an orange shawl stands at the right edge, and a few onlookers wear colourful saris and salwar. A blue bucket of water sits at the lower left corner of the pit.2006-12-30A photograph of a fire-walking ritual. In the foreground a woman in a cream sari with a magenta border walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing grey embers lined with white dotted markings. Along both sides of the pit stands a crowd of men and women dressed in white, some with white shirts and dhotis, one man in an orange wrap, and a man in the background playing a drum. Some people wear garlands, and several men hold bamboo barriers at the pit's edge. Ash-covered earth surrounds the pit, and a red-roofed building and palm trees appear behind the crowd.2005-12-31December 30 20062006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple celebration. In the centre, a woman in a white blouse and striped white-and-purple shawl walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers bordered by earth banks. Behind and beside her, many people in white dhotis and white shirts stand along bamboo railings, with a few in saffron or orange garments among them. On the right, a man in a white shirt raises an arm holding a camera or object above the crowd. A lit temple structure or canopy glows in the distance. Many onlookers, including women in saris and children, crowd the scene.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple event. A woman in white clothes with a light beige jacket walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers and ash. Along both sides of the pit, men and women in white dhotis and kurtas, some in orange shawls, stand behind bamboo poles and wooden barriers, with a crowd of devotees in saris and colourful clothing behind them. A man in white with a grey beard stands in the foreground at the pit edge, and a bucket sits at the lower left. White tents and a decorated ratha or palanquin are visible at the top. The pit is lined with earth and logs.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at a temple procession. A woman in a white sari with gold border and an orange shawl walks barefoot through a long trench of glowing embers, arms slightly outstretched. Crowds in white dhotis and white shirts line both sides behind bamboo poles, and devotees in white and orange stand close. A bright floodlight and a decorated ratha/chariot with a red and gold canopy appear in the background under a row of pennant flags. A blue bucket sits at the trench edge.2006-12-30A woman in a white sari with a coloured border walks barefoot across a shallow pit of grey hot ash during a fire walking ritual. A rudraksha mala hangs at her neck. Devotees in white dhotis and white shirts line the edges of the pit, some with folded hands, while drummers in the background play drums and a man in the foreground claps. Onlookers in white, red shawls and saffron cloth stand behind a wooden railing beside a green-roofed building. The ground is outlined with white dots.2005-12-31Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple celebration. A woman in a white skirt, maroon-and-khaki sleeveless top, and white leggings walks barefoot across a shallow pit of glowing embers and ash, bordered by wooden stakes and a rope. Behind her, a large crowd of devotees in white dhotis and white kurtas stands along the rope, with women in saris and one saffron-robed figure visible. On the right, a man in a white shirt with a red-and-white garland stands near a video camera operator. A lit ornate golden kalasha or shrine lamp appears at the top of the frame beneath strings of bunting.2006-12-30A woman in an orange and white sari-style outfit with an orange blouse walks barefoot across a long trench of glowing grey embers and ash during a fire-walking ritual. She has a red bindi and a beaded necklace. Around the pit, a crowd of men and some women in white dhotis and white kurtas stand barefoot on bare earth, several with hands pressed together in namaskar and some holding walking sticks. Several wear lanyard identity badges. Dry straw lies on the ground at the edges of the trench.2006-07-12Night photo of a fire-walking ritual at a temple. A long pit of glowing embers runs down the centre, and a person in white dhoti and shawl walks across it with hands pressed together in prayer. Men and women in white ritual clothes line both sides of the path, with bamboo poles marking the lane. A lit ornate chariot or palanquin with lamps stands at the far end, and a bald man in white stands at right near the pit. A large crowd of devotees watches from behind the poles.2006-12-30