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Outdoor ritual at a banyan tree beside a stone-and-earth Shiva lingam setup with a large black snake sculpture coiled around its base. A standing man in a saffron-orange robe with a rainbow-coloured flower garland stands at the top right, raising his hands above the lingam. Around him, a large crowd of devotees in white dhotis and kurtas, several in white turbans, sits or stands on the ground. A bearded man in a white turban sits in front on the left. Brass oil lamps, a small kalasha and a silver cup are set on a white cloth and the lingam platform, with yellow marigold garlands draped over the stone. Scene suggests abhishekam or puja.

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January 01 20042004-01-01January 01 20042004-01-01Outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with sprawling aerial roots. A standing figure in an orange-saffron wrap and a multicoloured flower garland holds hands together in prayer, facing a stone-built shrine with a long dark serpent-shaped sculpture at its base. Yellow and white flower garlands drape the shrine, with brass oil lamps, a kalasha-like vessel and offering plates on a low white table. Around them, roughly twenty-five people in white ritual clothing and white headwraps sit on the ground or stand, and a drummer in white plays a drum at left. Orange flags stand at the right edge.2004-01-01January 01 20042004-01-01January 01 20042004-01-01Outdoor ritual photograph beneath a large spreading tree. A bearded man in a saffron-orange robe and orange turban sits cross-legged at left, hands joined, beside brass puja vessels and lamps on a low wooden table. Nearby a bearded man in white stands with hands folded, and several people in white dhotis and kurtas stand or sit around the scene. Women in white and colourful saris, one wearing a long beaded necklace, watch from the crowd. At right, a stone platform is decorated with thick garlands of flowers in pink, white and green and an orange cloth. A black-and-white patterned border surrounds the ritual area and a wooden instrument rests against the gathering.2004-07-02Outdoor ritual at a large banyan tree with spreading aerial roots. A standing man in an orange-red dhoti-style wrap and a long multicolour flower garland raises a white feathered whisk or chamara above his head, facing a dark stone-covered base draped in orange cloth and decorated with yellow, red and white flower garlands. Beside him, a row of men in white dhotis, white turbans and beaded rudraksha necklaces stand or sit with brass bells and ritual objects. A seated bearded man in orange robes sits at left, and a brass oil lamp, a plate of offerings and a small kalasha-like vessel rest on a white cloth in the foreground. Several people in white stand behind the group near a sound system.2004-01-01January 01 20042004-01-012004 - First Sannyas Deeksha At AdiKailaasa2004-07-02Outdoor ritual under a large banyan tree with aerial roots. A man in an orange shawl and saffron dhoti, wearing a multicoloured flower garland and rudraksha mala, stands at left holding a bell, with a bell-ringing devotee beside him. Several devotees in white dhotis and white turbans stand in a row holding bells and rudraksha malas. At right, a bare-chested priest in ornate gold ceremonial attire sits at a black stone deity murti decorated with yellow and orange flower garlands and an orange cloth. Brass oil lamps, flower offerings and a small white-draped table sit in the foreground. A red and orange flag flies at right.2004-01-01Outdoor ritual at a large banyan tree beside a rock-built shrine. A figure in an orange-saffron dhoti and a saffron turban, with a multicoloured flower garland, stands holding a small brass vessel and an offering. Beside him, a bare-chested man with a rudraksha mala sits at a black shivalinga-style stone, which is draped with orange cloth and yellow and white flower garlands. Around them white-clad devotees stand and sit with folded hands, including a bearded man in a white turban and women in white saris. A brass oil lamp, a flower-decorated pot and a plate of offerings sit on the ground, and a large orange banner hangs on the right.2004-01-01January 01 20042004-01-01