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A photograph of a puja at a large banyan tree with many hanging aerial roots and branches overhead. A figure in a flowing red-orange robe with long dark hair and a white flower garland stands on a dark polished slab, holding a lit lamp toward the tree, which is draped with red and white flower garlands. Beside them, a man in a white shirt and orange shawl holds a brass plate of flowers, and a golden staff with a finial rests in the foreground. Behind them about a dozen men in white dhotis and shirts stand with palms pressed together in prayer. Whether the figure in red is the swami cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.

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A photograph of an outdoor ritual beneath a large spreading banyan tree with many aerial roots and branches. A central figure with long dark hair, wearing an orange-red wrap over the shoulder and bare upper back and a white flower garland, holds a metal lamp with a visible flame at the level of the hands. Around them, devotees in white shirts, white dhotis and white garments stand with palms pressed together in anjali. On the left edge, a person holds a tall golden staff with a decorative top. Sandy ground and greenery surround the scene.2007-07-29A photograph of an outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with spreading aerial roots. A bare-chested figure in a red-orange wrap, wearing a white and red flower garland, stands with their back to the camera holding a metal vessel from which a flame rises. Around them, a group of men in white shirts and white dhotis stand with palms pressed together in namaskar. The tree trunk on the right is draped with white and red garlands. The ground is bare earth with a dark mat or cloth at the base of the scene.2007-07-29Outdoor photo beneath a large spreading banyan tree with aerial roots. A central figure with long dark hair, bare-backed in a red-orange cloth and wearing a white flower garland, holds a lit oil lamp or arati flame in a brass vessel and performs a ritual offering. Around them, men in white shirts and white dhotis stand with palms pressed together in prayer. A man at left in an orange shawl over white holds a brass tray with flowers and a ceremonial staff topped with a gold finial stands in the foreground. Bare sandy ground and greenery surround the gathering.2007-07-29Outdoor ritual at a large banyan tree with sprawling aerial roots and dense green foliage. A bare-chested man in an orange-red wrap and a white flower garland holds a silver lamp with a flame in one hand and a handbell in the other, performing an aarti. Around him, a group of men in white shirts and white dhotis stand with palms pressed together in namaste. A garland of orange and white flowers hangs on the tree trunk at right. A ceremonial staff with a gold top is visible at the left edge. The ground is bare earth. Because the lead figure has long swept-back hair, a flower garland and a saffron wrap, a probable identification applies to the person conducting the aarti.2007-07-29Outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with sprawling aerial roots and branches. In the foreground a woman with long dark hair, wearing a red-orange garment wrapped around her waist and a white flower garland, holds a lit aarti lamp with flames toward the tree while facing away from the camera. Around her, a group of men in white dhotis and white shirts stand with palms pressed together in namaskar, several wearing rudraksha malas and small pendants. Garlands of white and orange flowers hang on the tree trunk at right. The sandy ground and open greenery frame the scene.2007-07-29A photograph of an outdoor ritual at a large banyan tree with many aerial roots. In the centre, a person in a bare-chested, draped red-orange cloth and a white flower garland holds a lit oil lamp (aarti) toward the tree while speaking. Around the tree, flower garlands in white and orange-red hang in swags on the trunk and roots. Behind and to the left, a group of about a dozen men in white shirts and white dhotis stand with palms pressed together in prayer. A person at the far left holds a gold-topped staff. The ground is bare earth with a dark stone slab in the foreground. The person in red has no visible crown, turban or rudraksha, so the identity is uncertain.2007-07-29A photograph of an outdoor puja beside a large ancient banyan tree whose trunk and aerial roots are draped with red and white flower garlands. A bare-chested figure in a red-orange dhoti-style cloth and white flower garland stands at the centre with hands folded in namaskar, facing the tree; a small flame burns near the base. Around them about a dozen people in white shirts, white dhotis and white kurtas stand with palms pressed together in prayer, one young boy in white at the left edge. The setting is a dirt clearing among thick branches.2007-07-29Outdoor photo beneath a large spreading banyan tree with thick grey branches. A man with long dark hair, bare-chested and wearing an orange-red wrap, stands centrally wearing a long white flower garland with red and green accents, holding a small silver handbell and a silver vessel with a burning flame. Around him, several men in white dhotis and white shirts stand with palms pressed together in namaskar, some wearing rudraksha-style beaded necklaces. On the left a man in white holds a silver tray of flower petals and an orange shawl draped over his shoulder, and a long golden ceremonial staff is visible at the left edge. The ground is bare earth.2007-07-29Outdoors beneath a large banyan tree with sprawling aerial roots, a man with long dark hair and a white-and-orange garland stands bare-chested, wrapped in a red-orange cloth, holding a metal lamp with a bright flame and a small bell in his other hand as he performs an aarti. The trunk to the right is decorated with red, orange and white flower garlands. Around him, about a dozen people in white ritual clothes stand with palms pressed together in prayer, some wearing rudraksha malas, and a few children are visible at the left edge.2007-07-29Outdoor photo beneath a large spreading banyan tree with sprawling aerial roots. A central figure in an orange-red dhoti and wrap, with a long white and red flower garland, bare-chested, holds a bronze bell in the right hand and a flaming brass lamp or fire vessel in the left, performing a ritual. Behind him, a row of men in white shirts and white dhotis stand with palms pressed together in namaste, some wearing rudraksha-style beaded necklaces. On the left a man in an orange shawl holds a brass tray of flower petals and garlands. A bare-ground courtyard surrounds the group.2007-07-29A photograph of an outdoor ritual beneath a large, sprawling banyan tree with many aerial roots. A person in a red-orange robe with a white and red flower garland holds a lit flame or camphor aarti lamp toward the tree, which is decorated with white jasmine and red-and-white garlands and a yellow marigold garland draped along its trunk. Behind them, several men in white shirts and white dhotis stand with hands folded in prayer, and one holds a bell. The ground is sandy with a dark stone slab in front and a striped mat at the right edge.2007-07-29A photograph taken outdoors beneath a large spreading banyan tree with thick intertwined branches. In the centre, a figure with long dark hair and a white tilak on the forehead stands bare-shouldered wearing a red-orange cloth and a thick garland of white flowers with green leaves, holding a brass handbell in the right hand with eyes closed. Around him, several men and a woman in white dhotis, shirts and white garments stand with palms pressed together in anjali, some wearing rudraksha malas. The setting appears to be a ritual gathering in the open air.2007-07-29