Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Outdoor ritual under a large banyan tree with many hanging aerial roots. Four men in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls, some with bare upper bodies and rudraksha malas, stand on a paved walkway. The central man holds a lit oil lamp flame in one hand and a small vessel in the other, with a garland of flowers draped near him. A left attendant holds a silver tray of flowers and offerings, and another attendant with hands folded stands nearby. On the right, a man in orange holds up a white ceremonial board decorated with yellow and green flower garlands. A brightly coloured fringed canopy hangs at the top right. Prayer or puja is being performed, with no visible swami in a distinctive presentation.

More like this

Open the gallery
December 22 20182018-12-22 +1 copiesA photograph of a group of saffron-robed sannyasis performing an aarti before a large cutout portrait of a smiling bearded man in a saffron turban and gold necklace, garlanded with red and yellow flowers and mounted on a yellow pole. Several young men and boys in orange dhotis and shawls, with white markings on their arms and faces, hold brass plates of flowers and oil lamps. A man on the right wears a leopard-print headwrap and holds a lamp. Large banyan tree roots form the background.2018-12-22 +2 copiesDecember 22 20182018-12-22Photograph of an outdoor evening ritual beside a red-painted wall and green metal gate, with a large tree and hanging vines. A young man in orange dhoti with gold borders, bare-chested and wearing beaded necklaces, raises a lit oil lamp toward the tree. Beside him, another man in orange dhoti and red-orange cloth holds a silver tray with offerings and a small bowl. On the right, a figure with long matted dreadlocks, bare back marked with white horizontal stripes, and a folded green leaf plate, stands facing away. Further right, a bald man with glasses wears an orange-red shawl. The setting is dim dusk with dry leaves on the ground.2016-10-31December 20 20092009-12-20Outdoor photo beneath a large banyan tree with hanging aerial roots. A long-haired figure in saffron-orange robes and a white and yellow flower garland stands center on a dark polished stone platform, hands joined in prayer. Behind and to the left, several saffron-robed men stand in a line; one holds a golden trident-topped staff and another holds a brass plate of yellow flowers. A white-clad attendant with an orange shawl stands at right. Before them sits a white-edged raised platform with yellow marigold petals, brass lamps and a small kalasha-like vessel, with white floor-painted kolam designs. The scene suggests a ritual or puja.2008-12-25Outdoor ritual procession beneath a large banyan tree with dense aerial roots. A bearded man in a rust-brown robe, a saffron-orange turban, a gold necklace and a garland of white and pink flowers stands with hands folded at the centre. Behind him a man in white dhoti and gold-bordered shawl holds a white ornamental parasol with beaded fringe. Another man in white dhoti stands to the left, and a younger man in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl with rudraksha beads stands with hands clasped beside the tree. A red-brick platform and a garland of yellow marigolds and red roses hang along the right side, with a kalasha-like pot with a flower garland in the foreground. The scene suggests a temple ceremony and devotion.2016-12-03December 22 20182018-12-22 +2 copiesDecember 27 20092009-12-27A photo of a procession-style ritual outdoors under trees. In the foreground a man with a black turban and leopard-print headband, bare-chested, wearing orange cloth, orange and rudraksha-style beaded malas and white body markings, raises a lit oil lamp with flame in one hand. Behind him, several young men in orange cloths and black turbans, some bare-chested, hold brass plates of yellow and pink flowers and garlands. A stone well ring with a red-painted base sits at right. The setting appears to be a temple or ashram grounds with wooden railings and greenery.2018-12-22December 23 20162016-12-23December 22 20112011-12-22