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Men in a hall perform a stick dance during Navaratri, holding colored sticks. Those in saffron-orange dhotis and red shoulder cloths face each other in pairs, while others in white dhotis and white shirts with red shawls join in. A decorated deity murti stands in an ornate gold frame at the back, flanked by a maroon curtain and bright pink lighting. Sheets of tiled floor and a row of seated women in orange saris are visible at the edges.

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A photograph of a group stick dance inside a hall with a white tiled floor and a dark red drape behind them. Men in saffron-orange dhotis and sarongs, and in white dhotis with gold borders, strike short rods with one another while stepping in a circle. A young man in a white t-shirt and grey trousers, with a red cloth over his shoulder, stands in the foreground holding a rod. Behind them a golden deity murti or altar stands under a red-draped backdrop, and framed portraits hang on the walls, with a few spectators at the edges.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03A photograph of a stick-fighting or staff-play performance in an indoor hall with a polished floor and red draped curtains behind. Several men and boys in saffron-orange dhotis and sleeveless orange garments stand in two facing lines, holding slender wooden staffs. A shirtless man in a white dhoti with golden border stands at right holding a staff. A boy in an orange kurta with a white headband stands centre, and a boy in a lavender kurta stands among the group. Some performers wear rudraksha mala necklaces and bangles. A camera on a tripod and a stage light appear in the background. This is a live performance, not a ritual homa.2016-10-03A large hall during a group stick-dance performance, with dancers in white kurtas and orange dhotis wearing red and orange sashes, holding short colourful sticks and moving in pairs and circles on a glossy white floor. Several children in orange dhotis join the dancers at the centre. Behind them, a stage holds a large gilded deity murti and a decorated throne-like altar with floral garlands, and gold framed deity images hang on the right wall. A bald man in orange and a man in white stand near the right foreground. Many devotees line the room in orange, white and red attire.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03A group of devotees perform a stick-based ritual dance in a bright hall with pale tiled floor. In the foreground, a young man in a red kurta with a red-patterned cloth holds a short purple stick and raises an arm. Beside him, a man in a white dhoti with gold borders and a saffron-coloured sash holds a bundle of coloured sticks, and a man in an orange dhoti with a rudraksha mala and sandalwood tilak twirls a stick. Behind them, more men in white dhotis with red shawls and orange garments move in rhythm, some with sticks held aloft. Devotional decorations hang on the wall at the back of the room.2016-10-03Indoor photo of a group of men performing a stick dance in a bright hall with a white tiled ceiling and glossy white floor. Several dancers in orange and saffron dhotis, some bare-chested, swing thin wooden sticks with coloured tips. A man in a red kurta on the far left also raises a stick. In the background, men in white dhotis and white shirts with red shawls watch and move among the dancers. Framed pictures line the right wall beside a red curtain and a draped table.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03August 28 20152015-08-28A photograph of a large hall with pink walls and a tiled floor where many people are dancing and moving in lines during a devotional ritual. Most men wear white dhotis with gold or red borders and red angavastrams, some bare-chested, while a young person in a saffron-orange kurta stands at the left with a vibhuti-marked forehead. Several participants hold small rods or sticks. At the back, a stage shows large deity murtis, a decorated gold palanquin-style display, and a deity figure with a crown, while a few people in orange and red saris stand near the wall. A man in a light blue kurta stands at the right.2016-10-04Indoor photo of a large hall with white walls, framed photo panels and ceiling lights, where devotees perform a dance with colourful sticks. In the foreground a bare-chested man in orange dhoti and rudraksha mala holds up a sticks, beside a man with long dark hair in an orange wrap and rudraksha beads. Others in white kurtas and orange shawls swing bright pink, purple and yellow sticks, and a child in pink stands at lower left. Behind them, participants in white clothing and orange sashes gather, and a golden decorative fan hangs on the left wall.2016-10-03A photograph of a group of young men in a bright hall performing a coordinated procession or dance in a line. Most wear saffron-orange dhotis and shawls with gold borders and rudraksha malas, while several in the front wear white dhotis with gold or orange borders. Some have long hair and some have shaved heads; they walk barefoot on a pale tiled floor. Behind them stand framed photo collages on the wall, red curtains, and wall-mounted air conditioners. A visible person in the background wears orange and a bare-chested figure stands at the rear.2016-08-02