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A photograph of a waist-deep water ritual at a riverbank. A central figure in a maroon-red cloth and a heavy gold ornate pendant necklace, with a dark rudraksha-style mala, is bent forward with both hands pressed to the face while being held by attendants. Two men in white dhotis with gold borders and red sashes and gold chains stand on either side, one with outstretched hands, another in red sashes and rudraksha malas. Behind them a crowd of men in white and red-orange clothing, some shouting, some holding phones and a camera, pushes forward. A man in saffron-orange robes stands to the right. The scene reads as a sacred bathing rite in water.

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May 09th 20162016-05-09May 09th 20162016-05-09May 09th 20162016-05-09A photograph of a ritual bathing scene in shallow water, with a central figure with long dark hair wearing a dark maroon garment and heavy gold necklaces, both hands pressed to the face as he bends forward submerged to the chest. Around him, men in white dhotis with gold borders and red sashes stand waist-deep, and men in saffron/orange robes with gold chains and rudraksha malas attend him, one holding a long staff topped with a golden finial. Behind them a dense crowd of onlookers in white and red garments watches from the bank, and a cameraman with a video camera stands at right. The setting appears to be an open-air water body with a festive gathering, and a large orange umbrella is visible at upper left. The central figure's appearance does not clearly establish a candidate identity, so no candidate is asserted.2016-05-09May 09th 20162016-05-09A photograph of a ritual bathing scene in shallow water. A central figure with long dark hair wears a deep maroon-red cloth and a heavy gold ornate necklace with a large pendant, hands raised to his face, while several men surround him, some in white dhotis with gold borders and red sashes, one in orange with a rudraksha mala, and others in red and white garments with gold chains. Attendants lean in with outstretched hands, and a man in white at the right holds his palms out. Spectators and a photographer stand on the bank behind, including figures in white with saffron and red sashes. The water is murky and sunlit.2016-05-09May 09th 20162016-05-09A photograph of a ritual bathing scene in shallow water on a sunny day. A central figure stands waist-deep, bare-chested, with long wet dark hair pulled back by both hands, wearing a maroon cloth and a heavy gold necklace with a large gold pendant. Around him, several men in white dhotis and saffron/orange cloths with gold-thread borders, wearing rudraksha malas and gold chains, stand or lean in, some with hands raised. A man on the right in a light shirt with rudraksha beads and a man at lower left with white sacred ash on his forehead look on. A cameraman with a video camera is visible in the background among a crowd of white- and saffron-clad devotees holding flags. This appears to be a shahi snan (royal bathing) procession.2016-05-09A central figure with long wet dark hair and both hands pressed over the face stands waist-deep in water, bowing as water runs down. The figure wears a deep maroon garment, gold bangles, layered gold necklaces and a large gold pendant with a deity figure, plus a rudraksha-style bead mala. Around them, a crowd in saffron and orange robes, white dhotis with gold borders, and maroon sashes stands or wades in the water, holding a staff and a flower garland. A man on the left leans forward with a white vibhuti mark on his forehead, and a man on the right in a grey shirt and beaded malas looks on. A cameraperson films at the back. The scene resembles a river bathing ritual.2016-05-09May 09th 20162016-05-09A photo of a shahi snan ritual bathing in shallow brown water under a bright sky. A central figure in a deep red-brown robe and red-brown beaded mala kneels in the water, both hands raised to the face, with a gold ceremonial necklace. Around him, men in white dhotis with gold-bordered and red sashes and gold chains stand or kneel in the water, extending hands toward him. Behind them, figures in saffron-orange cloths, red and orange flags, and a standing man in a red turban and red garment complete the crowd, with a few people holding phones or cameras above.2016-05-09A photograph of a ritual bathing scene in shallow water. A central figure with long dark hair, wearing a deep red-maroon garment and a heavy gold-toned multi-strand necklace with a large pendant, is bowed forward while two men in white dhotis with gold borders and red sashes cup water over his head. Around them, men in white and orange-saffron robes, rudraksha malas and gold chains stand in the water and crowd the frame, some holding a trident and red flags. A man in the lower right wears a white shirt and beaded rudraksha necklaces, and a man in the lower left has white tripundra marks on his forehead. A videographer with a camera stands at the back. The scene suggests a shahi snan style procession bath, though no printed event name is visible in the image itself.2016-05-09