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Night photograph of a large outdoor ritual on stone steps lined with black Shiva lingas and small oil lamps. Crowds of devotees, many in white, saffron and pink clothing, sit with hands folded in prayer on the tiers. In the centre foreground a figure with a dark head wrap and a leopard-print lower cloth, bare-chested and wearing a gold necklace, stands with palms joined. Strings of coloured lights and tall lamp posts line the scene, with a red flag at the right edge.

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December 08 20162016-12-08Night-time outdoor ritual at a stepped tank-side arena lit by floodlights and strings of coloured bulbs. In the foreground a bare-chested man in a leopard-print wrap and maroon dhoti stands with palms joined in namaskar, a rudraksha-style mala around his neck, his head covered with a red cloth. Behind him, dozens of seated devotees in white, cream and bright saris and kurtas hold small oil lamps and lit wicks. Rows of black stone Shiva lingas with brass fittings and small flames stand along the steps. Red flags and a loudspeaker are visible at the edges.2016-12-08Night ritual on tiered stone steps lit by floodlights and strings of colourful bulbs. A large crowd of devotees sits in rows, many with palms pressed together in prayer. In the foreground a figure in a dark maroon head wrap and a leopard-print wrap stands bowed with hands joined. Black stone Shiva lingas or kalashas sit on the steps before the seated worshippers, some holding small oil lamps with flames. Red and orange flags line the railing. Some people wear white and saffron clothing, others bright saris and pink, yellow and green garments. Consistent with a rudrabhishekam-style ritual setting.2016-12-08Night outdoor ritual at a tiered stone ghat-style stepped platform lined with black Shiva lingas on pedestals. A large crowd of devotees, many in white, cream and pastel clothing, sits on the steps, some with hands folded in prayer. In the foreground a figure in a rust-brown wrap and leopard-print skirt, with a dark turban and a strand of marigold garlands, stands with arms raised facing the audience. Strings of colourful lights, red flags and bright floodlights frame the scene, and a camera rig is visible at left.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08Night photograph of a Rudrabhishekam ritual on tiered stone steps lit by floodlights and strings of small coloured lights. A large crowd sits on the steps holding small oil lamps and flowers, many wearing white, saffron and teal clothing. Rows of black Shiva lingams stand on the steps in the foreground. In the centre, a bare-chested man in a leopard-print wrap and rudraksha-style garland stands with palms joined in prayer, facing the gathering. Red pennants and tall lamp posts frame the scene.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08Night photo of a large outdoor ritual on stone tiered steps lit by floodlights and strings of coloured lights. A saffron-clad sannyasi with a maroon head wrap and a long beaded mala stands in the foreground, palms pressed together in namaste, wearing a patterned leopard-print wrap over a dark skirt. Behind him rows of seated devotees, many in white, orange and pink, hold their hands in anjali. Black Shiva lingams with small oil lamps are arranged on the steps, and a drum sits at the left edge. Speakers and red flags are visible at the right. Whether the foreground sannyasi is a person cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.2016-12-08Night photo of a large outdoor ritual on tiered stone steps lined with black Shiva lingas and brass-tipped sacred stones. A man in the foreground stands facing the crowd with raised arms and hands in a mudra, wearing a leopard-print wrap, maroon dhoti and a long wooden rudraksha-style mala. Around him, many seated devotees in white, green, pink and purple clothing sit on the steps, some with hands joined in prayer. Bright floodlights, strings of lights and red flags frame the scene.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08