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A photograph of an outdoor evening ceremony in a stadium-like setting with tiered seating filled with saffron-clad devotees and a water tank at right. In the foreground a long-haired, bearded man in a copper-brown shawl and pink-and-white flower garland places his right palm on the shaved head of a bare-chested, shaved-headed initiate who kneels with hands folded in anjali, wearing a rudraksha-style beaded necklace and white ash marks on the forehead and arms. A golden staff with a metal ornament stands beside the seated man, and a gold-coloured ornate object is at lower left. Other saffron-robed participants sit in the background.

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December 23 20162016-12-23Outdoor evening ceremony beside a large water tank with steps. A bearded man with long dark hair wearing an orange-brown shawl and a pink-and-gold beaded garland sits on an ornate silver throne with a golden lion figure at its base, touching the forehead of a bald devotee with his right hand. The devotee, in saffron cloth and rudraksha beads, has white horizontal sacred markings on the forehead and arms, hands joined in anjali. Behind them, seated rows of saffron-robed devotees and a large crowd fill tiered stands, with golden ceremonial staffs and a trident visible at left. Swamiji (probable) is the seated man on the throne, identified by long hair, saffron-brown shawl, ornate garland and throne presence.2016-12-23A seated man in an orange-brown saffron shawl and a pink-and-gold beaded garland blesses a shaven-headed devotee kneeling in prayer with palms joined. The blessing man has long dark hair and a beard, and rests one hand on the kneeling devotee's head while holding a long ceremonial staff topped with a silver finial. The kneeling devotee wears white tripundra markings, a gold necklace and a yellow dhoti. Behind them, many saffron-clad sannyasis and devotees sit in rows along stone steps beside a dark green water tank at night, with bright lamps reflected on the water. Golden ornaments, a lion-shaped brass figure and a silver-framed pedestal stand in the foreground.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23Outdoors at night beside a water tank, a bearded man with long dark hair wearing an orange-brown robe and a pink-and-gold flower garland sits on an ornate golden throne with a lion-head armrest and places his right hand on the head of a bare-chested, kneeling man wearing gold beaded necklaces. He holds a tall silver ceremonial staff topped with a round silver finial. Behind them, rows of seated devotees in saffron and orange robes and white attire fill the steps by the water, and a priest in a white dhoti with a shaved head and rudraksha mala stands nearby. a person appears seated on the throne, giving a blessing to the kneeling devotee, a scene consistent with a ritual blessing or darshan.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23Night ceremony at an outdoor temple tank with tiered stone steps lined by seated devotees in saffron and orange clothes. A bearded man with long swept-back hair and a rudraksha mala, wearing an orange shawl and a pink floral garland, reaches out to a bald, bare-chested young devotee with white tripundra markings, a gold-coloured necklace and armband, who sits with palms joined in anjali and smiles. The older man holds a silver-topped staff, and a golden lion-form seat sits in the foreground. Many onlookers fill the background, some with raised hands, and the water reflects lights.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23A seated man in a rust-brown shawl and dhoti, with long dreadlocked hair and a pink-and-white flower garland, places his right hand on the shaved head of a kneeling bare-chested sannyasi wearing a rudraksha mala and gold earring. The seated man holds a silver staff topped with a ceremonial finial, and a gold lion armrest is visible at lower left. Behind them, orange-robed monastics and white-clad devotees sit among rows of red and yellow banners in a large hall. a person appears as the seated man with dreadlocks, a rust shawl, floral garland and ceremonial staff, giving a blessing to the kneeling disciple.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23A bearded man in a rust-brown robe and a pink-and-purple floral garland sits on an ornate silver-and-gold throne with a golden lion-head armrest, holding a silver staff topped with a trident-like finial and touching the forehead of a younger man. The younger man, bare-chested with long dreadlocked hair, a white sacred thread over the shoulder, gold necklaces, an armlet and an orange-and-red dhoti, stands with palms pressed together in namaskar. Behind them, seated attendees in orange robes and a large crowd on tiered white steps and beside a water tank watch the blessing. a person: the seated bearded man in rust-brown robe, rudraksha-style mala and ceremonial garland on the throne, giving the blessing.2016-12-23