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A photograph of a ritual exchange inside a richly decorated hall with gold-framed backdrop and red curtains. In the foreground, a man in a red-maroon sleeveless robe with long dreadlocked hair, rudraksha beads, a gold necklace and a gold armband places his hand on the shoulder of a bare-chested kneeling devotee wearing a white dhoti and shawl. Behind them, a man in a white and gold-bordered dhoti with rudraksha malas stands beside a woman in a yellow-bordered sari, and a shaved-headed attendant in white stands at the left edge. A ceremonial gold and blue staff and a golden throne with a seated figure appear in the background. Several people are visible.

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A photograph inside a gold-trimmed temple hall. A bearded man in a sleeveless rust-red robe with long dreadlocked hair tied up, wearing rudraksha malas on his arms and chest and a gold pendant, smiles while placing his hand on the bare shoulder of a kneeling, bare-chested man who holds a folded white cloth. Behind them a priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold chains and rudraksha beads holds an open book, and another man in white stands at left. A brass gong and golden throne frame stand in the background, with a small gold deity murti in front. Several people are visible.2017-07-11A photograph of a ritual exchange inside a temple-like room with gold-toned carved panels. In the foreground, a long-haired man with swept-back dark hair decorated with rudraksha beads, a white forehead mark, rudraksha malas on his neck and arms, and an orange-red sleeveless garment faces a bald, bare-chested man seated with his head tilted toward him; the standing man rests his hands on the seated man's shoulders and neck. Behind them, several men in white dhotis with gold borders stand and assist, and a metal staff with a blue handle is visible. A gold-rimmed ceremonial gong sits to the right.2017-07-11A photograph of a close, intimate exchange in a gilded ritual hall. In the foreground, a long-haired man in a rust-orange sleeveless garment and rudraksha beads on his neck and upper arms leans in and grips the bare shoulders of a shaved-headed man seated before him, who wears a red-and-black beaded necklace. Both men wear rudraksha; the seated man has a small earring. Behind them, two men in white dhotis with yellow borders stand near a gold-toned pillar, and a gold-rimmed gong is visible at right. The long-haired man is styled as a sannyasi with a swept, dreadlocked knot and rudraksha beads, and is described here by role and dress only. Right-side caption reads a copyright line.2017-07-11A photograph of a ritual blessing. A man with long dark dreadlocks wrapped in a bun, decorated with rudraksha beads, wears a rust-red sleeveless garment, multiple rudraksha mala necklaces, a gold pendant, a rudraksha armband and a tilak on his forehead; he places his right palm on the forehead of a bare-chested, shaven-headed man who bows his head with eyes closed and hands folded. Behind them, men in white dhotis with rudraksha bracelets stand near a golden ornate seat and a silver-topped staff. Gold decorative elements and a red curtain fill the background.2017-07-11July 11 20172017-07-11July 11 20172017-07-11July 02 20172017-07-02 +1 copiesA night-time photograph of a ritual initiation. On the right, a man with long swept-back hair, a beard, a red-brown saffron shawl, a long multi-strand gold necklace, a gold pendant and rudraksha-style beaded bracelets raises his right hand to touch the forehead of a bare-chested devotee on the left, who bows forward. The devotee wears a white cloth with a thin white sacred thread, a rudraksha mala and red-and-white wrist threads. Behind them an attendant in white clothing with a vertical sandalwood-coloured mark on his forehead watches, and a silver-trimmed ornate throne stands at the right edge beside a red pillar. The scene is a shiva deeksha initiation.2017-10-05Photograph of a bearded man with long dark hair, white tilak on the forehead, rudraksha bead bracelets and necklaces, a gold ornament in his ear, and a saffron-orange shawl over bare shoulders, leaning forward to grasp the arm of a bare-chested devotee in a white dhoti with a yellow thread, who is bent over and smiling. The bearded man is smiling broadly and holding his hands together with the devotee. Behind them a man with a white forehead band and long hair wears a gold pendant, and a colourful embroidered red-and-gold cloth hangs in the background. A dark-skinned attendant's hand is visible at the lower left.2017-10-15A photograph of a ceremonial moment in a temple-style hall. A man with long swept-back dark hair, wearing an orange-red draped garment, multiple rudraksha malas, a gold necklace, gold earring and beaded bracelets, reaches out to place his hand on the head of a kneeling man with short dark hair who wears a white dhoti with gold border, a bare upper body, a rudraksha mala and red wrist thread, with palms pressed together. Behind them, several men in white and orange dhotis stand, some bare-chested with malas, and a smiling man with a tilak sits near a small golden deity murti on a stand. Ornate gold pillars frame the right side. The long-haired man with rudraksha and gold ornaments is a person, giving a blessing; he is the appearance-based candidate and this is in person.2017-07-26July 11 20172017-07-11A photograph of a long-haired man in a rust-red sleeveless garment and many rudraksha beads, his hair adorned with rudraksha, placing his right hand on the head of a shaved-headed bald man in an orange garment who is seated with his head bowed. Rudraksha malas hang on the seated man's arms and neck. Behind them, men in white dhotis with yellow borders stand near a golden pillar and a metal vessel.2017-07-11