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A diksha or initiation moment in a temple hall. A shirtless, long-haired man with a reddish beard and a rudraksha mala bows forward with palms raised, receiving a touch on his forehead from a man in a deep red-orange shawl with long dark hair, ornate gold necklaces, coral and orange beaded bracelets, and white vibhuti on his forehead. Behind them, two men in white dhotis with gold borders stand with offerings, a yellow-and-red flower garland hangs on the first man's chest, and a yellow flower arrangement sits at the left edge beside a brass vessel. A black electric fan and a stone wall are visible on the right.

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June 23 20172017-06-23A photograph of a shaved-headed, bare-chested man with rudraksha malas and a white dhoti, smiling with both palms raised, while a man on the right with long swept-back hair, a gold ornamental necklace, a red-and-gold shawl, gold earrings and an orange beaded bracelet touches his forehead with his hand. A standing fan and yellow-and-orange flower garlands sit nearby, and a shirtless attendant in a red-bordered dhoti carries a tray in the background. The right-hand figure has long swept-back hair and distinctive gold adornment, so he is a person present in person; the central man is a devotee receiving blessing.2017-06-23A photograph of a shaved-headed, bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a gold border, wearing rudraksha mala necklaces and a flower garland with a ribbon at his chest, standing with raised hands while a person in orange and saffron clothing with a long swept-back hair, gold ornamental necklace, bangles and earrings places a hand on his forehead. Behind them a yellow-bladed fan, a partially visible seated figure in orange, and a second white-clad man with a rudraksha mala stand near a floral offering of marigolds and red flowers. Another white-clad man in the background holds a tray of fruit. The scene appears to be a blessing or initiation moment during a ritual gathering.2017-06-23June 23 20172017-06-23Photograph of an intimate ritual blessing indoors. A bald, bare-chested man with white vibhuti lines on his forehead and shoulders, wearing a rudraksha mala and white dhoti, has his face gently touched by a long-haired man in an orange-red shawl with ornate gold necklaces, orange beaded bracelets and a gold earring. The long-haired man's hair is swept back and he wears a white forehead mark and a short beard. Behind them a seated audience in white and cream clothes watches, and a black-and-yellow pedestal fan stands nearby. Flowers in yellow and red hang from the first man's neck. The scene suggests a shaktipada transmission. The long-haired man matches the a person appearance cues, so the in-person candidate is described as probable.2017-06-23 +1 copiesJune 23 20172017-06-23June 23 20172017-06-23A kneeling bare-chested devotee with long curly hair and a reddish beard receives a touch to the forehead from a standing priest in saffron-red robes with gold-trimmed shoulders and heavy gold necklaces. The devotee holds one palm raised and wears a white dhoti and sacred thread. Beside them stands a figure in white dhoti with gold border holding a saffron-tipped ceremonial staff of flowers. Yellow marigolds lie on a floor mat at left, a black-and-yellow electric fan and a stone pillar are behind, and other white-clad devotees are in the background. The saffron-robed figure wears orange beaded bracelets, rudraksha-style malas and a gold necklace, indicating a person depiction cue, and is presented as a person blessing a devotee, a shaktipada-style initiation moment.2017-06-23A ritual initiation scene where a long-haired man with a flowing red-brown shawl over his bare upper body, heavy gold necklaces, orange-red beaded bangles and tilak on his forehead presses his palm to the forehead of a bare-chested boy in white dhoti with a rudraksha mala. The boy has his hand raised and eyes closed. Behind them, a fan, a woman in white with a white forehead mark, and seated devotees in white and maroon clothing are visible, with flower garlands and a brass plate with yellow flowers at the left. a person is the man giving the blessing, shown by his long swept hair, ornate gold jewellery, rudraksha-style beads and red-gold shawl.2017-06-23A photograph of a shirtless older man with a white sacred-ash line and red-yellow tilak on his forehead raising his right palm, while a younger man with long dark hair, a white forehead mark, orange rudraksha-style beaded bracelets, a gold ornate necklace and an orange-red shawl presses his fingers to the older man's brow in blessing. Behind them a woman in a cream sari with gold border stands at the side, a bare-chested man holds a tray of fruit at left, and a yellow-bladed fan and a stone wall are visible. a person (appearance-based) is the younger man in the orange-red shawl and gold jewellery giving the blessing.2017-06-23A seated man on an ornate gold throne with carved floral backrest receives a garland of yellow and red flowers being lifted over his head by a bare-chested attendant in a saffron and brown cloth with a sacred thread and rudraksha necklaces. He wears a dark brown-red robe, rudraksha mala beads, and a dark head covering. Another attendant in an orange-saffron robe and red-orange turban stands at left holding a plate, with a pedestal fan and stone pillar behind.2018-04-11 +1 copiesA photograph of a ritual blessing inside a hall with red curtains. A bare-chested man in white dhoti with a gold border and a rudraksha mala stands with palms pressed together in namaste, eyes closed, as a long-haired man with a pink-and-white flower garland and a brown-orange cloth presses his hand to the standing man's forehead. A kneeling devotee in an orange sari sits in the lower left foreground beside a brass bowl, and a gold-edged altar or palanquin edge appears at the bottom right. Other men in white shirts with rudraksha malas stand in the background. The scene suggests a blessing or abhishekam-style consecration.2017-02-27