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A night photograph of a fire-walking ritual on a dirt path lined with glowing embers and ash. A young woman in a white kurta and white trousers walks barefoot across the coals. Along the edges, devotees in white dhotis and white saris stand behind wooden railings, watching. In the foreground at right, a bald, white-bearded man in white dhoti and shirt with a gold wristwatch stands looking on. Background shows a crowd and a lit ornamented structure.

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December 30 20062006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple gathering. A central path of glowing embers runs between two earthen trenches, and a man in a white dhoti and white shirt walks across it carrying a drum. Dense crowds of devotees in white dhotis, white shirts and saris stand on both sides, held back by tall bamboo poles. A flaming ratha or procession structure with lights is visible in the distance. A man in white with a camera stands at the right edge.2006-12-30A photograph of a fire-walking ritual on a dirt ground at night. A young boy in a white shirt and shorts walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing grey embers, hands pressed together in prayer. Devotees in white dhotis and shirts line both sides of the pit behind bamboo railings, watching. On the right foreground, an older bald man with a grey beard in a white shirt, white dhoti and a gold wristwatch stands at the pit's edge with his hands folded, observing. Several spectators in the background wear white and one woman wears a red sari.2006-12-30Night-time photograph of a fire-walking ritual in a dirt pit lined with glowing embers and grey ash. A child in a red sweater and dark trousers, with a dark cap, walks barefoot along the pit while a man in white dhoti and shirt holds the child's outstretched hand. Crowds of devotees in white dhotis and saris stand behind wooden railings on both sides. In the foreground at right, an older man with grey hair and a grey beard, in a white shirt and white dhoti with a gold wristwatch, stands watching quietly. The ground is reddish earth and the scene is lit by warm artificial light.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at a temple. A woman in a pale shawl and white clothes walks barefoot along a long trench of glowing embers lined with dirt banks. Men in white dhotis and shirts stand along the trench, one gesturing toward her. Dense crowds in white and colourful saris line wooden barriers on both sides, and an illuminated temple ratha or shrine stands in the background under string lights and banners. A blue bucket sits at the lower left.2006-12-30Night photo of a fire-walking ritual in an open outdoor area. A woman in a white sari with a red-marked forehead and a beaded necklace walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers and ash, with raised earthen sides. Around the pit, a dense crowd of people in white dhotis and white shirts stands behind wooden poles and barricades, watching. A man in the lower right wears a white shirt and dhoti, and a man at the right edge wears an orange garment. A lit lamp structure sits at the top of the frame and string lights hang overhead. The scene reads as a devotional fire-walking event.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual in a crowded outdoor temple area. A woman in a white sari walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers and ash, with raised wooden poles lining the path. Many men in white dhotis and shirts stand along the sides and behind, and a large crowd of spectators fills the foreground and background. A lit ceremonial structure or temple tower with lamps is visible in the distance under strings of pennant flags. A blue bucket sits at lower left.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual in an open outdoor area. A long trench of glowing embers and ash runs down the centre, and a woman in white clothes with a white garland and dark head covering walks barefoot across it while devotees in white dhotis and shirts line the path. Behind her a lit temple chariot with a canopy and lamps stands under strings of bunting. A large crowd of spectators in white and coloured saris and kurtas watches from both sides, held back by wooden poles.2006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30A fire-walking ritual on a dirt ground. A young girl in white clothes walks barefoot across a long rectangular pit filled with grey ash and embers, while onlookers in white garments watch from both sides. In the foreground a man in a white shirt and white dhoti stands at the edge, and a woman in white with glasses and a rudraksha mala looks down toward the pit. A crowd in white and light-coloured clothes stands behind a wooden rail, with a red-and-green roofed temple structure and palm trees in the background. No individual can be confidently identified as a person from appearance, so no candidate is named.2005-12-31