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A ritual raising of a tall white pole with red bands, set into a brick-lined pit strewn with red and pink petals, during an outdoor ceremony. A man in orange-red ochre robes, a pink and white flower garland, a gold pendant and a red sacred thread stands barefoot with palms pressed together in prayer, eyes lowered. Beside him an attendant in matching orange robes grips the pole near its top, and another attendant in orange, bare-chested and wearing rudraksha beads, steadies it. A red and orange canopy with tassels shelters the scene, and a decorated stone seat with fruit, brass vessels and offering trays sits behind. Drummers and robed participants stand in the background, and a curtain-like white cloth is wrapped around the pole.

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A photograph of an outdoor ritual at a temple-like courtyard. In the foreground a man with long dreadlocks and a vertical tilak stands with palms pressed together, wearing a rust-orange dhoti and shawl, a pink and white flower garland, a gold pendant and rudraksha-style beads. A red and gold ceremonial parasol is held above a white-and-red striped pole planted in a pit lined with yellow bricks and scattered red and pink petals. A second man in rust-orange cloth crouches beside the pit, pouring from a small vessel, while a man at right in an orange shawl holds the parasol. Behind them, saffron-robed devotees and drummers with metal drums stand among a crowd. A stone seat, fruit plates and brass vessels sit on striped mats.2017-10-01Outdoor temple ritual photo: a man in orange-red robes with a pink and white flower garland and a gold pendant stands with palms pressed together and eyes closed beside a white pole wrapped in cloth, set into a pit lined with yellow bricks and scattered red and pink petals. Behind him, a helper holds a red and gold parasol, another man in orange pours from a brass vessel, and a line of orange-clad attendants and drummers with drums stands in the background. Trays of offerings, kalasha-style pots and brass vessels sit on striped mats. This appears to be a pole-raising or consecration rite with flower offerings.2017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01Outdoor ritual photo at a temple courtyard under a red and gold canopy with OM motifs and a striped multicolour canopy behind. A man in a rust-brown robe with a pink and white flower garland and gold pendant stands with hands joined in prayer, forehead marked with white tilak. Beside him a bare-chested man in white dhoti with a long rudraksha mala and gold necklace holds a tall white-and-red pole, while a dreadlocked man in orange cloth kneels at a pit lined with yellow bricks, the pit scattered with red flower petals. Behind them rows of orange-robed devotees and drummers stand among flower offerings and a green coconut on a striped mat.2017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01A photograph of an outdoor ritual at an ashram: a bearded man with long dreadlocks in a rust-brown robe and a pink-and-white flower garland pours water from a silver pot over a tall white-and-red pole set into a brick-lined pit, with rose petals scattered around. Behind him, a man in a rust robe holds a red-and-gold umbrella overhead, and a second robed man on the right raises the pole with palms pressed together. A large group of people in orange garments stand behind a striped cloth, many with hands folded, and drums are visible. Offerings including a coconut, a brass kalasha and a brass vessel sit on a striped mat, and a red umbrella decorated with Om symbols shades the scene. Partial text reads 2020 Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam and . The figure pouring water shows long dreadlocks, a rudraksha-style bead bracelet, and a flower garland, but this appearance is uncertain2017-10-01Outdoor ritual photo under a tent canopy with a large red and gold umbrella overhead. A central figure in a rust-red robe and a pink-and-white flower garland stands with eyes lowered, one hand on a tall white-and-red wooden pole. Beside him a man in a rust-red robe and gold necklace presses his hand to a yellow turmeric block set on a stone base, while others in orange robes with matted dreadlocks lie prostrate in the foreground. Brass vessels, fruit and offerings sit on a striped cloth. Behind, many young devotees in orange clothing stand with folded hands and a drummer plays.2017-10-01Outdoor ritual scene with a man in a maroon dhoti and a pink-white flower garland, hands pressed together in prayer with eyes closed, wearing a gold pendant and white vibhuti on his forehead. Beside him a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a rudraksha mala and gold pendant raises his hand to a tall white-and-red striped post, while another ascetic with long dreadlocks and orange cloth bends low near a stone base scattered with red flowers. Offerings on a striped cloth include a coconut, fruit, a brass vessel and a glass jar. Behind them, saffron-robed youths play drums under a red umbrella embroidered with Om symbols and a multicolored umbrella with tassels, with a crowd gathered under tents. Shaded by a red umbrella with Om motifs. a person candidate visible: none identified with confidence.2017-10-01Outdoor ceremony under a canopy at an ashram-style site. A man in orange clothing with a shaved-looking head is kneeling at the base of a white-and-red striped wooden pole set into a pit, laying yellow stone or brick blocks with red kumkum marks. Beside him, a man in a rust-red robe and pink-and-white flower garland stands with hands folded, and a second man in white dhoti with gold border and rudraksha beads pulls on the pole. A red and gold umbrella marked with Om hangs above, and fruits and a green coconut sit on the mat. Dozens of orange-robed devotees stand behind in the background.2017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01