Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A night-time photograph of a construction or excavation site with a sandy dirt floor and unfinished concrete-block walls. A man in a white shirt and pink lungi crouches and works with a tool on a stone-like object, while two men in white and checked clothing stand behind him holding long iron rods. In the centre-right, a shaved-headed man in an orange-red dhoti and shawl with gold borders presses his hands together in prayer. Beside him, a man with long hair in an orange-red dhoti and shawl with gold borders extends his hand holding an orange offering, and a woman in a light sari stands further back. Brick structures and scattered debris fill the background.

More like this

Open the gallery
September 16 20132013-09-16A night-time outdoor ritual site with a sandy floor, unfinished concrete-block walls and a brick fire pit. A man in a white shirt and red dhoti kneels at the front, placing a brick beside a white round offering on the ground, with marigold petals scattered. Behind him a man in a white shirt holds an iron rod. Two men in saffron-orange robes with gold borders stand at right; the one in the centre has his palms joined in prayer, and the one on the right has one palm raised in greeting. The person in a saffron robe at the far right edge is partly visible.2013-09-16Night-time outdoor ritual at a brick-walled open yard with a dirt floor. A man in a saffron-orange dhoti with gold borders, bare-chested with long swept-back hair, extends his hand toward a small fire pit of lit oil lamps and offerings. Beside him a shaved-headed priest in orange robes with gold borders stands with palms joined in prayer. Two men in white dhotis and a man in a white shirt tend the fire, one holding a long metal rod and another a wooden stick, while a man in a checked shirt stands at left. A woman in white and gold sari watches at the upper right. Fire pit, sacrificial setup. Five people visible.2013-09-16A night outdoor scene in an open brick-walled yard with a dirt floor, showing a small clay-and-brick structure and a white stone or lump on the ground with red flower petals scattered nearby. Two men in white shirts work at the left: one bends low placing bricks, the other holds long iron rods. Standing in the centre, a bald priest in orange-saffron dhoti with gold borders and a rudraksha-style mala presses his palms together in prayer. To the right, a man with swept-back long hair wears an orange dhoti with gold borders and bare upper body, while another bald man in orange robes and beaded necklace holds a plate of red offerings. The scene suggests a ritual preparation such as a homa fire pit being readied.2013-09-16September 16 20132013-09-16July 29 20132013-07-29A homa or yagna being performed in an open-sided hall with bare concrete floor and smoke rising. On the left a man in a rust-red dhoti with gold borders and a flower garland stands smiling and holds a stick. At centre a shaved-headed priest in rust-red and gold-bordered dhoti with a bare upper body and a rudraksha mala bends over the fire pit, tending it with a long iron rod. Around him stand several young men in white t-shirts and white dhotis, one in a white shirt, and another man in a white turban-like cloth. A man in red-and-gold garments is partly visible at the right edge. Walls are whitewashed and stained, with a metal-grilled window and a shuttered gate behind.2014-08-24August 24 20142014-08-24July 14 20132013-07-14A photograph of an outdoor-style ritual construction site inside a bare, whitewashed hall with dirt floor. In the centre, a small brick-lined fire pit with a lit flame and smoke rises from it, with scattered red flowers nearby. A man in a red-maroon dhoti with gold-yellow borders and a flower garland stands at right, holding a small red cloth and a brass tray with bowls and flowers. Around him, about a dozen men in white t-shirts, checked lungis and white dhotis watch, while two men work on a stone-and-brick structure with tools at centre. A man in a white shirt and jeans stands on the earthen base hammering or setting a pole. The scene suggests the ritual setting of a bhoomi puja or foundation rite.2014-08-24August 24 20142014-08-24A groundbreaking or foundation-digging ceremony in a open-sided shed with a red corrugated roof and cream walls. In the foreground a man in a checked shirt and dark lunghi leans on a long iron rod, digging into a pit of red-brown soil while a root or pipe is exposed. Around him stand a crowd of men and children: several bare-chested priests in red-orange dhotis with gold borders and rudraksha malas, a man in white kurta and orange shawl holding a small orange cloth bag, and men in white shirts and dhotis. A child in a maroon shirt and dark trousers stands near the pit, and a woman in a red sari with gold border and a girl in orange appear at the right. A camera operator stands at the upper right. Roughly twenty-five people are visible.2015-02-01