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A bare-chested older man with white hair and clear-framed glasses, wearing a long rudraksha mala and beaded bracelets, leans forward at a ceremonial altar while handling a thread or cord near a figure in the foreground. Behind him, a man in a sacred thread stands beside a bespectacled man in glasses, and a crowd of devotees in saffron, purple and white saris and white dhotis watches. Fresh yellow and pink flower garlands and a brass oil lamp rest on a wooden platform in front of them, with a stage backdrop and yellow decorations behind. The scene suggests a ritual initiation or blessing at an indoor ceremony.

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A bald, bespectacled older man in a bare upper body and white dhoti kneels and receives something cupped in his hands from a long-haired man seated in front. The seated figure wears an orange-brown shawl, a rudraksha mala, ornate gold bangles and armbands, and a garland of pink and white flowers in his hair. Behind them, shirtless men in white dhotis stand with hands folded, one wearing a rudraksha mala and white sacred ash markings on the chest and arms, amid a crowded ritual gathering with red and gold decorations. A watermarked copyright line appears in the lower right corner.2016-12-02 +1 copiesDecember 02 20162016-12-02A crowded ritual scene of devotees, many bare-chested with white ritual cloths and sandalwood or vibhuti marks on their bodies. In the right foreground a long-haired man in a rust-brown shawl, wearing a white and pink flower garland, gold armlets and bangles, extends his hands to receive or hand over small items to a bearded man with a rudraksha mala and a red tilak. Other devotees watch, one with arms folded, and a woman in the lower left leans in. Behind them stands a colourful pooja setup with a garland-draped table. The gathering suggests a Rudra Abhishekam-style practice, though the exact rite is not clearly visible.2016-12-02A photograph of a bare-chested man with short grey hair standing in a crowded night setting, his right eye covered by a painted orange and black Third Eye motif. A bearded hand-raised figure in a white dhoti touches his forehead while a long-haired devotee with a flower garland of white and pink blossoms, gold bangles and a red-brown shawl stands in the foreground. Other bare-chested men with white marks on their bodies and a white-clad man with a rudraksha mala stand around, and a black Shiva lingam with flowers appears at the top right. Behind, a large temple-like backdrop with gold roof details is visible.2016-12-02Photograph of a crowded ritual gathering at night. In the foreground, a bare-chested man with a short beard and glasses, wearing a white dhoti and an orange headband, bends forward with cupped hands receiving something from a long-haired man at right. That man has long dark hair, a garland of pink and white flowers around his neck, a dark rudraksha-style mala, gold bangles and a gold earring, and wears a maroon shawl over his bare shoulder. Behind them, several bare-chested men with white markings on their torsos and foreheads stand in the crowd, some wearing white dhotis and beaded necklaces. A red cloth-covered surface and gold ornament edge appear at the right edge. The setting suggests a Rudra Abhishekam or similar temple ritual, though the exact rite is not clearly visible.2016-12-02Evening photograph of a ritual setting with warm lights. In the foreground a long-haired, bearded man seen from behind wears a rust-brown shawl, a lotus garland, a rudraksha mala and gold bangles, and holds a folded white cloth or offering. Facing him, a bare-chested, shaved-headed man in white dhoti and a white sacred thread-like neck cord hands him a small item. Behind them, other bare-chested devotees and a person in white stand amid red cloth and floral decorations, with a golden-edged structure at the right edge.2016-12-02Photograph of a seated bare-chested man in white dhoti with a long rudraksha mala and a pendant necklace, eyes closed and mouth open as if chanting, holding a yellow flower in his hands. Beside him a woman in a cream and gold sari with a red bindi and gold jewellery sits with eyes lowered, and another woman in glasses is partly visible at right, with gold curtains and red drapes behind. The man has short grey hair and wears spectacles and a gold bracelet; no crown, saffron robe or distinctive a person cues are clearly visible, so his identity is uncertain. Two people are clearly visible, plus a partly visible figure at the edge.2017-12-15A photograph of a ritual gathering at a temple-style hall with colourful painted pillars. In the foreground, a long-haired man with dreadlocks and a beard wears a brown-red shawl over his bare shoulder, a pink and white flower garland, gold armbands and gold earrings. He smiles and looks to the side. Behind him, a bearded man wears a bare chest and a gold-coloured shawl, and a bald bespectacled man in cream dhoti and white sacred thread stands bare-chested with a rudraksha mala. Other bare-chested men in white dhotis, some with tilaka and sacred threads, stand or bend over offerings in the background. a person cues: long dreadlocked hair, flower garland, gold ornaments and an ochre-red shawl; he is the central figure and appears to be receiving devotees.2016-12-02Crowded ritual scene at night with many shirtless male devotees and priests. In the foreground, a long-haired man with a dark beard wears a brown-orange wrap over his bare shoulder, a large white and pink lotus garland, and gold armlets, and stands with his hands near a ceremonial offering. To the left, an older bespectacled priest with grey hair wears a bold eye-shaped mask on his forehead, a white sacred thread and white-and-gold dhoti, bending over to handle a small offering. Other devotees in white and cream dhotis, some with sacred threads and ash markings, fill the background, and a red cloth draped over a seat appears at right. Several people are partially visible.2016-12-02December 02 20162016-12-02December 15 20172017-12-15December 05 20162016-12-05