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A group of devotees perform a stick-based ritual dance in a bright hall with pale tiled floor. In the foreground, a young man in a red kurta with a red-patterned cloth holds a short purple stick and raises an arm. Beside him, a man in a white dhoti with gold borders and a saffron-coloured sash holds a bundle of coloured sticks, and a man in an orange dhoti with a rudraksha mala and sandalwood tilak twirls a stick. Behind them, more men in white dhotis with red shawls and orange garments move in rhythm, some with sticks held aloft. Devotional decorations hang on the wall at the back of the room.

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October 03 20162016-10-03A photograph of a group stick dance inside a hall with a white tiled floor and a dark red drape behind them. Men in saffron-orange dhotis and sarongs, and in white dhotis with gold borders, strike short rods with one another while stepping in a circle. A young man in a white t-shirt and grey trousers, with a red cloth over his shoulder, stands in the foreground holding a rod. Behind them a golden deity murti or altar stands under a red-draped backdrop, and framed portraits hang on the walls, with a few spectators at the edges.2016-10-03Indoor photo of a group of young men and boys in ceremonial dress performing a ritual procession in a large hall with a light tiled floor. Foreground: a boy in an orange cloth with a white forehead band and a shaved head. A young man in a red embroidered kurta stands at left. Beside him, a shirtless man wears an orange dhoti and a long dark rudraksha mala and a white tilak on his forehead and chest markings. Next, another shirtless man with orange dhoti and rudraksha mala holds a short striped wand. At right, a boy in a pink kurta with a dark braided rudraksha mala holds a striped wand, and a row of men in white dhotis and orange cloths follow behind. Some hold coloured sticks. Background shows framed pictures on the wall and onlookers in white and green clothing.2016-10-03Indoor photo of a group of men performing a stick dance in a bright hall with a white tiled ceiling and glossy white floor. Several dancers in orange and saffron dhotis, some bare-chested, swing thin wooden sticks with coloured tips. A man in a red kurta on the far left also raises a stick. In the background, men in white dhotis and white shirts with red shawls watch and move among the dancers. Framed pictures line the right wall beside a red curtain and a draped table.2016-10-03Men in a hall perform a stick dance during Navaratri, holding colored sticks. Those in saffron-orange dhotis and red shoulder cloths face each other in pairs, while others in white dhotis and white shirts with red shawls join in. A decorated deity murti stands in an ornate gold frame at the back, flanked by a maroon curtain and bright pink lighting. Sheets of tiled floor and a row of seated women in orange saris are visible at the edges.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03A photograph of a large group of men performing a stick-based ritual dance in a marble-floored hall. Many dancers wear white dhotis and white kurta-style shirts with red-orange shawls draped over their shoulders and red waist sashes, holding thin decorated sticks. In the centre foreground a man in a white shirt, red shawl and red-tipped strings holds a stick. To the right a bare-chested dancer with a white forehead band, rudraksha beads and a saffron cloth around his waist also holds sticks. A man at left wears a teal shirt and white dhoti. Behind them a wall displays framed deity pictures and an orange ceremonial umbrella.2016-10-03October 07 20162016-10-07A photograph of a stick-fighting or staff-play performance in an indoor hall with a polished floor and red draped curtains behind. Several men and boys in saffron-orange dhotis and sleeveless orange garments stand in two facing lines, holding slender wooden staffs. A shirtless man in a white dhoti with golden border stands at right holding a staff. A boy in an orange kurta with a white headband stands centre, and a boy in a lavender kurta stands among the group. Some performers wear rudraksha mala necklaces and bangles. A camera on a tripod and a stage light appear in the background. This is a live performance, not a ritual homa.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03August 28 20152015-08-28A photo of a lively indoor gathering in a hall with cream walls, framed pictures and ceiling lights. In the centre, a young man with short dark curly hair and white vibhuti on his forehead wears a white dhoti with gold border and a white shawl, a beaded bracelet and a red-stone necklace, and points one finger upward. Around him, men in saffron-orange robes and white garments with dark rudraksha-style beads move through the crowd. A bare-chested man with white markings on his torso and forehead and another with long dreadlocks in red robes stand nearby. Several people are visible in the background. a person is not clearly identifiable in this image.2017-01-22