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A photograph of a Hindu initiation or blessing ritual. A bald, bare-chested older man kneels with his head bowed, eyes covered by a white cloth wrapped around his head. A hand with rudraksha beads on the wrist presses a palm to his forehead. Behind him a younger man wearing a white forehead band and red tilak stands near ornate silver ceremonial staffs or danda with finials. Another person in an orange-red cloth is partly visible at right. Setting appears to be an indoor ritual space with blurred figures in the background. Two people are clearly visible, with a few others partially seen.

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March 25 20182018-03-25Photograph of a ritual initiation scene in a hall. A bare-chested man with a white cloth blindfold tied over his eyes and a white dhoti stands with his hands pressed together at his chest, bowing forward. Behind him a young man with a vertical tilak on his forehead and long dreadlocked hair, wearing an orange cloth, rudraksha beads and a neck pendant, supports him by the shoulders. On the right, a bearded man with long matted hair wrapped with rudraksha beads, wearing an orange shawl, rudraksha bracelets and gold earrings, extends his hand toward the blindfolded man. A tall silver ceremonial staff stands between them. Other people in orange and white robes are blurred in the background.2018-03-04A close photo of a bare-chested man with a white cloth tied over his eyes, kneeling as a woman in an orange sari touches his forehead with her right hand. Her wrist is wrapped in rudraksha beads and a gold bangle. He wears a thin white thread necklace, and a tear is visible on his cheek. Another person in white stands at the right edge, and a blurred figure in white is behind. The setting appears to be an indoor ritual, consistent with an initiation or blessing moment. No a person candidate is visible in the frame.2018-03-25Close photograph of a shaved-headed man with his head bowed and hands folded in anjali, wearing a white cloth tied around his forehead and head, with a rudraksha mala around his neck and bare upper body. A hand with a ring and a red sacred thread on the wrist rests on his head in blessing. The background is dark with a soft red and warm light.2018-04-01March 04 20182018-03-04April 08 20182018-04-08 +1 copiesA photo of a shirtless, bald-crowned man with grey hair and a white-and-gold cloth tied over his eyes, leaning forward with his head bowed while assistants steady him by the shoulders. Behind him stands a sannyasi in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha beads, and a hand with rudraksha bracelets rests on a polished metal pillar beside a silver vessel. Ash markings are visible on the bare back.2018-03-04April 08 20182018-04-08 +1 copiesClose photo of a man with short dark hair and a white cloth tied over his eyes, head bowed, while a hand wearing rudraksha bracelets and a gold bangle rests on the crown of his head. The hand belongs to a person in an orange garment with a beaded necklace. A silver ceremonial staff with ornate finial stands at right. The blurred background is pale and white-clad.2018-03-25A photograph of a ritual moment in which a long-haired man in an orange-red shawl and gold earrings and necklace raises his hand toward the forehead of an older bald man. The older man, bare-shouldered with white sacred ash markings on his scalp and shoulder, wears a white cloth tied over his eyes, a rudraksha mala and a gold chain, and keeps his eyes closed. The setting is a plain pinkish wall with dark red drapery.2017-07-28Close side view of a man with his head bowed and bound with a white cloth bandeau bordered in gold, bowing forward and touching his forehead to the bare forearm of another person extended toward him. The extended arm wears a rudraksha mala bracelet of brown beads and shows a faint scar. The background is blurred with warm golden tones. Only the two arms and head are visible.2018-03-04March 24 20182018-03-24 +1 copies