Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Outdoor groundbreaking or bhoomi puja at a construction site of raw red earth, with a freshly dug pit in the foreground. A seated man on a gold throne with a red cushion and a multicoloured fringed canopy wears saffron robes, palms pressed together, with a long swept-back hair and a beaded necklace, appearing as a person, a presiding figure receiving honour. Before him a young priest in orange cloth and a rudraksha-style necklace sits on a mat beside brass vessels, flowers and a basket. Behind, a group of men stand bare-chested or in orange and white dhotis with hands folded, some playing drums; women in green and orange saris and men in white shirts and dhotis watch from the rear. Palm trees, a concrete wall and parked vehicles lie in the background.

More like this

Open the gallery
Outdoor ground-breaking ceremony on reddish earth beside a low wall and palm trees. A seated man in a red-orange robe with long hair and a rudraksha mala sits on an ornate gold throne under a multicoloured canopy, with a fringed red cushion. In front, a young man in an orange-robed, bare-chested ritual attire kneels at a freshly dug pit, holding offerings on trays with a flower garland and a basket. Standing devotees in orange and white ritual clothes, one in a green-and-white sari, a drummer with a drum, and onlookers in saffron, purple, and green watch with hands folded. The figure on the throne shows distinctive long hair and orange robes, fitting a person cue, but the identification is uncertain.2016-09-15September 15 20162016-09-15September 15 20162016-09-15A outdoor ritual at a construction site beside a grey block wall. A man seated on an ornate gold throne with a red cushioned seat and a multicoloured fringed canopy wears an orange-brown robe, a long rudraksha mala and has long hair; he sits with hands folded. Two bare-chested young men in orange dhotis sit cross-legged on a striped mat before a pit in the ground, one holding a brass lamp and a plate of offerings, the other with a rudraksha mala, ash-smeared. Around 15 standing men and women in orange, white and green garments, some with malas, watch with palms together. Brass vessels, flowers and a basket sit on the mat. Suggests a foundation or yagna pit ceremony; the throned figure is not clearly identifiable from appearance, so no identity is asserted.2016-09-15September 15 20162016-09-15September 15 20162016-09-15Outdoor ground-breaking or foundation ritual on bare red earth in front of a grey concrete-block wall. A seated figure in a golden throne with red cushions and a multicoloured fringed canopy wears a saffron-orange wrap and has long hair and a beard; the appearance is consistent with the page's a person flag but the cues are not distinctive enough to confirm, so identity is unsure. Two attendants in saffron-orange dhotis stand to the right, one holding a fan or whisk and a ceremonial gold ornament. Along the left, a line of devotees in white dhotis, white shirts, saffron garments and a woman in a green sari stand with hands folded in namaste. A striped multicoloured cloth is spread on the ground holding brass plates, fruit, flowers, a basket and vessels, and a row of concrete blocks is laid out at right. A red flag flies at the top right.2016-09-15Outdoor photo of a bhoomi puja or foundation ritual on bare red earth beside a concrete block wall and palm trees. A man in saffron-orange dhoti sits cross-legged on a gilded throne with red cushions under a multicoloured canopy, his hands in his lap, wearing a rudraksha mala. Seated in front, a shaved-headed priest in orange performs puja over a plate of offerings, a white pot and a kalasha-like vessel on a striped cloth, with a marigold garland nearby. Standing devotees in saffron, white and green saris press palms together; two drummers with a drum stand at left.2016-09-15September 15 20162016-09-15Outdoor ritual on bare earth beside a grey block wall at a construction site. A golden throne with red cushions sits under a multicoloured fringed canopy. A figure seated on the throne, in orange robes with rudraksha beads, presses palms together. Two priests in orange kneel on a patterned mat before a small ritual setup with a plate, bowls, a flower arrangement and a basket. Standing devotees in white dhotis, a green sari and white shirts watch with hands folded. Mounded earth and a freshly dug trench fill the foreground.2016-09-15A ceremonial groundbreaking or bhoomi puja at an open dirt site in front of a grey block wall. In the foreground, a bare-footed man with long matted dreadlocks and white body markings, wearing an orange dhoti and beaded bangles, pours water from a brass vessel into a freshly dug pit. Beside him, a kneeling man in an orange garment and ornate gold-beaded headdress tends the offerings. Behind, a seated bearded man in a rust-orange robe sits on a golden ornate throne with red cushions under a multicoloured canopy; he is presumably the honoured figure, with his appearance and clothing alone not enough for identification. Nearby stand a row of orange-robed sadhus and several men in white shirts and dhotis. Ritual items include plates of flowers, fruit, a basket, and a folded striped cloth mat. Stacked grey bricks lie to the right.2016-09-15September 15 20162016-09-15