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A seated man in a rust-red robe and gold rudraksha-style necklaces with a large gold pendant sits on a gold-and-red throne, receiving a white flower garland being placed around his neck. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with white sacred ash on his forehead leans in to adorn him, while several young attendants with white and red markings stand behind. A red cushion and a standing fan are visible in the background.

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A photograph of an outdoor ritual initiation at night. A seated man in a rust-red robe with a leopard-print headband, long dreadlocked hair, a red tilak, layered gold-bead and white-flower garlands and gold armlets sits on a gold-and-red throne and smiles with eyes closed while another man presses his hand to the head of a bare-chested, bearded devotee in a white dhoti with purple flowers and a red-and-white thread. Behind them, saffron-robed attendants with white body markings and rudraksha malas stand near a bright light. A gold peetha backdrop frames the scene. a person is the seated figure in the red robe and gold garlands, shown in a ceremonial seat.2017-08-22August 07 20172017-08-07August 22 20172017-08-22July 18 20162016-07-18A seated man on a gold-and-red throne wears a maroon turban with a crescent emblem, a garland of white and pink flowers, rudraksha malas and gold ornaments, and holds a white cloth band stretched over a kneeling devotee's head. The devotee, bare-backed and wearing a white dhoti, bows forward with hands on his head while another attendant in white and rudraksha beads supports him from the left. A gold-and-red throne with a carved floral backrest frames the scene, indicating a blessing or initiation ritual. The seated figure matches the presentation cues for a person, though identity is uncertain from appearance.2017-07-08 +1 copiesJuly 03 20162016-07-03October 05 20172017-10-05A night-time photograph of a ritual initiation. On the right, a man with long swept-back hair, a beard, a red-brown saffron shawl, a long multi-strand gold necklace, a gold pendant and rudraksha-style beaded bracelets raises his right hand to touch the forehead of a bare-chested devotee on the left, who bows forward. The devotee wears a white cloth with a thin white sacred thread, a rudraksha mala and red-and-white wrist threads. Behind them an attendant in white clothing with a vertical sandalwood-coloured mark on his forehead watches, and a silver-trimmed ornate throne stands at the right edge beside a red pillar. The scene is a shiva deeksha initiation.2017-10-05A photograph of a seated man on an ornate silver throne with a red cushion, wearing a rust-red shawl over the body, a gold multi-strand necklace with a large gold pendant, a rudraksha bracelet and armband, and a vertical tilak on the forehead. He is touching the forehead of a standing devotee wearing a white dhoti with gold border and bare upper body, who is bending forward. Another person in white clothing is partly visible at left, and a silver lion-shaped armrest sits at lower left. Appearance-based probable Swamiji cues: long swept-back hair, ornate gold necklaces and rudraksha adornments, seated on a throne with a ceremonial role. The setting is an outdoor ceremonial area with stone pillars and railings, consistent with a blessing or deeksha moment.2017-10-05October 15 20172017-10-15A photograph of a ritual initiation at night. A man with long dark hair, a full beard, gold earrings and a rust-red shawl over his shoulders, wearing layered gold necklaces with a large gold pendant and rudraksha bead bracelets, places his hand on the forehead of a bare-chested devotee in a white dhoti and white shawl who bows forward with hands joined. Another devotee in white stands behind, and a man at left wears rudraksha malas and has white sacred ash marks. The seated man sits on an ornate silver-and-red throne-like chair in front of a stone pillar and red wall.2017-10-05July 03 20162016-07-03