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Night ceremony under a roofed open pavilion strung with coloured fairy lights, with a tall brass lamp stand in the background. A central figure in a rust-brown dhoti and wrap, wearing a long rudraksha-style bead garland and gold necklaces, walks forward holding a tall gold staff. Beside him, a figure in saffron-orange cloth and gold chest ornaments walks, and two other men in orange cloth follow. Many seated participants in white dhotis and white shirts, several wearing red blindfolds, sit on mats along both sides of a red carpet, with some hands folded in prayer. On the left, a large decorated elephant-headed Ganesha figure stands in red and gold, with a seated attendant nearby. This is a Mandala Process initiation scene in the Nithya Kriya Yoga programme.

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August 22 20172017-08-22 +1 copiesNight ritual event under a corrugated roof strung with multicoloured fairy lights. A central man in a rust-brown dhoti and shawl, with a white-and-gold beaded garland, stands smiling and holds a tall gold-tipped staff upright. Around him, attendants in saffron-orange cloth, with gold necklaces and armbands, walk beside him on a red carpet. Seated participants on mats, many wearing red blindfolds and white ritual clothes, sit in rows. A decorated figure, possibly a deity murti, stands at the left with an elephant-headed form behind lamps and a lit spotlight. Visible scene matches a Mandala Process initiation with participants blindfolded.2017-08-22August 08 20172017-08-08Night ritual hall under a corrugated roof strung with coloured fairy lights and bright floodlights. A central figure in a brown-gold dhoti and wrap, with a large gold beaded necklace, bangles and a decorated crown-like headdress, walks along a red carpet beneath a multicoloured ceremonial canopy. Flanking attendants wear saffron-orange and white garments, one carrying a ceremonial fan-like object. Along both sides, seated devotees in white dhotis, some bare-chested, wear red blindfolds over their eyes, indicating a Shiva Deeksha initiation. Several sit on mats with offerings nearby.2017-08-21Night-time ceremony under a corrugated metal roof strung with multicoloured fairy lights. A central figure in a rust-brown robe with a heavy gold necklace and bangles walks down a red carpet beneath a tall ceremonial parasol with rainbow-striped fringe, held aloft by a pole. Two attendants in orange and saffron cloth flank him: one on the left in orange with a silver pendant, one on the right in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha-style mala. Seated devotees on both sides wear white and cream dhotis, many with red headbands over their eyes, some bare-chested, as in a Shiva Deeksha initiation. Bright stage lights and a small illuminated shrine appear at the back.2017-08-21Night-time photograph of a Nithya Kriya Yoga initiation (Vishesha Deeksha/Mandala Process) at an open-air pavilion with coloured fairy lights and a palm-leaf ceiling. In the centre, a man in a rust-brown dhoti and shawl, wearing a large white-and-gold flower garland, gold necklaces, rudraksha malas, a gold armlet and a white and silver headband, stands smiling beside a younger man in orange cloth with white tripundra on his forehead, a silver and gold ornamental breastplate and a garland, holding a tall gold staff topped with a trident. Behind them, orange-clad helpers have palms joined, and rows of seated participants in white dhotis wear red blindfolds across their eyes, with red-painted foreheads and rudraksha malas. The floor is covered with a red carpet.2017-08-22Night photograph inside an open-sided tent with a corrugated metal roof, strung coloured lights and bright stage lamps overhead. A central man in a maroon-brown dhoti and shawl wears a gold crown, heavy gold necklaces, a long gold beaded garland and gold armlets, and walks forward smiling. Beside him a younger man in orange-saffron cloth and a gold shawl holds a ceremonial brass vessel with green leaves. Behind them a man in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha-style neck garland gestures with an outstretched arm. Seated on the floor in front, many devotees in white clothes wear red blindfolds over their eyes, some with red-and-white attire. A bare-chested man sits at right.2017-08-21August 21 20172017-08-21Night-time ritual photograph under a open-sided pavilion strung with coloured fairy lights and banana leaves. A central man in a rust-brown dhoti and shawl, with a thick garland of white flowers and a gold-toned chest ornament, stands on a red carpet and smiles. Behind him, several young men wear saffron-orange dhotis and rudraksha malas, one carrying an ornate silver kalasha with a green leaf. Seated on mats along both sides, many participants in white dhotis wear red blindfolds over their eyes, consistent with a Mandala Process initiation. A bright stage light glows at upper left.2017-08-22A photograph of a ceremonial gathering under a open-sided pavilion hung with decorative lamps and palm fronds. A man in a rust-brown dhoti and shawl, wearing a long gold necklace and a garland of flowers, walks down a red carpet with a bare-chested attendant behind him. Seated on both sides, many devotees in white dhotis and shawls wear red headbands over their eyes, with ash and tilak marks on their foreheads. Several women in white saris and a few people in orange and red clothing stand near the left edge. The man in front carries no visible crown or shawl adornments beyond the garland and necklace, so his identity is uncertain and he is described by role only.2017-05-26Night ceremony at an open-air temple pavilion with a red-and-white canopy. A man in a maroon dhoti and shawl, wearing a white jasmine garland, a gold necklace and a jewelled headpiece, walks forward holding a multicoloured fringed parasol pole. Behind him a woman in maroon and a man in white dhoti with gold border and rudraksha mala follow, with a man in saffron robes with long hair in the foreground. Seated devotees with tripundra marks and folded hands line the red carpet, and a lit deity shrine with garlands is behind. Ratha-like procession with parasol bearers, satsang-style ritual setting.2017-08-22September 05 20172017-09-05