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A photograph of a ritual initiation in a hall with pink and red lighting and draped red curtains behind. In the foreground a long-haired, bearded figure with dreadlocks sits on a gold-carved, red-cushioned throne, wearing heavy gold bangles, a gold necklace and armlets. Facing away, he reaches toward a bare-chested young man kneeling before him, who has a thin white cord or thread being passed over his head. A young woman in an orange-red sari and gold jewellery assists beside them. On the right a bare-chested young man in white dhoti and rudraksha mala stands by a tall gold staff. Behind, women in white and blue saris and girls in white watch, with many devotees in the background. This appears to be a Gayatri or Shiva deeksha initiation, with the seated figure presumed to be a person based on dreadlocks, heavy gold ornaments and throne.

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February 15 20172017-02-15Photo of a ceremonial initiation inside a hall with pink-lit walls and a crowd in the background. In the foreground, a bearded man with long hair sits on an ornate gold-carved red throne, wearing gold armbands and bangles, and bends forward to place his hands on the head of a young boy kneeling before him. Around them, several young people in orange and white garments and rudraksha malas assist, including a young woman in an orange sari with a gold-beaded garland and a young man bare-chested with a mala. A tall gold staff stands beside the throne, and a long-haired figure in orange sits at the right edge. The scene appears to be a Gayatri or Shiva deeksha initiation.2017-02-15A photograph of a ritual initiation in a hall with pink-tinted lighting. A seated figure with long dreadlocked hair, gold earrings, gold necklaces and gold bangles sits on an ornate gold throne with a red velvet backrest, appearing to bless or instruct the people before him. A young girl in an orange saffron dress and beaded necklaces stands before him, and a young man in a white dhoti and rudraksha mala assists her while a boy in white bends forward. Another dreadlocked person in orange robes stands at right beside a tall gold staff, and a woman in white and women in orange stand in the background among a crowd. The seated figure's appearance shows several cues such as long dreadlocks, ceremonial gold ornaments and a throne, consistent with the page's mention of a person, so this is a probable in-person candidate, though the face is not clearly visible.2017-02-15A photograph of a seated figure with long dreadlocks on an ornate gold-and-red throne, viewed from the side, with a gold ceremonial staff in the foreground. Around the throne, several people in orange and white clothing attend a ritual: a young woman in an orange sari with a gold-bead garland receives attention, a shirtless young man with a rudraksha mala and white dhoti stands at right, and a young boy bends forward while another boy stands nearby. A woman in white is at the back. A large audience fills the hall behind, with pink-lit walls and posters. a person probable appearance cues are not clearly established for the seated figure, so the identity is left uncertain.2017-02-15Indoor ceremony in a hall with pink-tinged lighting and a red curtain valance. In the foreground a gold-carved throne with a red velvet seat is occupied by a figure seen from behind with long dreadlocked hair, while nearby a young woman in an orange sari with garlands and a man bare-chested with rudraksha malas and a white dhoti kneel and bend forward in devotional service. A tall gold-finished staff stands beside them. Several young people in orange and white garments, some with garlands and white forehead markings, stand around the scene, with a large seated audience blurred in the background.2017-02-15December 24 20172017-12-24April 30 20172017-04-30 +1 copiesApril 30 20172017-04-30 +1 copiesA seated figure on a red cushioned throne with an ornate gold backrest is performing a ritual on a bare-chested man bowed forward at the left centre. The seated man wears a leopard-print headband, a red-and-maroon robe, layered gold necklaces, gold armbands and a red tilak, and is holding a white cord draped over the kneeling devotee's head. Two attendants stand at the left with long matted hair, rudraksha malas and sacred ash on their foreheads, one wearing white and the other orange-brown. The setting appears to be a shivadeeksha initiation ritual; the seated figure is an appearance-based probable Swamiji with cues of swept-back long hair, a crown-like headband, ornate gold necklaces, rudraksha malas and a gold throne, and the bowed devotee wears white dhoti.2017-08-21April 30 20172017-04-30 +1 copiesApril 30 20172017-04-30 +1 copiesA bare-chested man with long swept-back hair, a crown-like headpiece, ornate gold necklaces, gold armlets and bangles, and a rust-orange shawl sits on a leopard-print cushioned seat in front of a gilded throne. He extends his arm while a devotee in a white dhoti works at his wrist with a thread. Behind him, women in white saris with gold borders and rudraksha malas, and women in orange, watch and tie threads with their hands. Ornate gold carved panels and a red curtain frame the scene. The man is an appearance-based candidate for Swamiji (probable), identified by the long swept-back hair, ornate gold jewellery and orange shawl, and seated in a ceremonial throne. A white-clothed devotee in the foreground holds a thread, and the ceremony is a thread-tying blessing.2017-07-28