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Outdoor ritual gathering under a large banyan tree strung with white flower garlands, with a crowd of devotees in white and saffron clothing seated behind. In the foreground a bald man in orange robes kneels on a red patterned rug, holding a long wooden rod. Nearby, several people in orange robes stand holding long bamboo poles tipped with orange flags, and brass vessels and oil lamps sit on mats in front of them. On the right, a long-haired man in an orange shawl and a woman in orange sit on a chair, the woman with her hand on her knee, while a man in white stands beside them. The scene suggests a ceremonial puja or fire-walking preparation.

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Outdoor ritual gathering under a large banyan tree with hanging garlands. A seated figure in long swept-back dark hair, saffron robe, rudraksha mala and white dhoti sits on a folding chair, while a devotee in saffron kneels and bows his head to the floor at his feet on a red patterned rug; a standing attendant in saffron with a grey beard and gold-edged cloth stands at right. Behind them, a row of shaved-headed saffron-robed monks stand holding brass kalashas and long staffs over lines of brass plates with offerings, oil lamps and flowers laid on woven mats. Many people in white clothing sit on the ground in the background. Swamiji (probable): the seated figure shows long swept-back hair, saffron robe and rudraksha mala, the cues the rules require, and the bowing devotee performs a padapuja-style homage.2006-07-12Outdoor ritual at a tree shaded by garlands, on sandy ground. A long-haired person in saffron robes and a white dhoti sits on a folding chair, facing a kneeling attendant in orange who holds a long staff over a small red rug. Several saffron-robed men stand in a line behind, holding kalasha pots and staffs, with rows of brass vessels, fruit, flowers and oil lamps set on woven mats before them. A bearded man in orange and white stands at right holding a trident-like staff. Devotees in white clothing stand in the background. Several people are present in the scene.2006-07-12Outdoor ritual gathering under a large banyan tree with garlands hanging from its branches. Men in white dhotis and white shirts sit on the ground in rows behind several participants in saffron robes. A bald sannyasi in saffron kneels on a red patterned rug, bowing his head to the ground, while another saffron-clad priest sits on a low mat arranging brass pots, plates of offerings and small bowls. A standing saffron-robed attendant holds a long wooden staff. On the right, a man with long dark hair and a grey beard in saffron wrap holds a silver trident, and a seated figure with long hair and a saffron wrap, wearing a rudraksha mala, sits on a chair in the centre with his hands together. Brass vessels and a kettle sit on the ground in front, with mats and plates of fruit and food arranged around.2006-07-12Outdoor ritual under a large banyan tree strung with white flower garlands and orange marigold garlands. A saffron-robed monk kneels on a red patterned mat, pouring water from a brass vessel (kalasha-style pot) at the bare feet of a seated person in an orange robe with long dark hair and a white cloth draped over the lap. Several saffron-robed monks stand in a line behind, holding brass pots and a staff, with trays of brass vessels and offerings on mats in front. On the right a bearded man in orange holds a ceremonial trident. Behind them a large crowd of people in white clothes sits on the ground. This is an abhishekam-style padapuja ritual with water offering at the feet.2006-07-12July 12 20062006-07-12Outdoor ritual gathering beneath a large tree hung with white flower garlands and orange-and-green marigold strings. A seated man with long, swept-back dark hair wears an orange robe over white, with a rudraksha mala, and smiles as a devotee prostrates full-length on a red-patterned rug before him. Several shaved-headed sannyasis in orange robes stand behind holding brass vessels and staffs. Shallow brass plates with oil lamps and offerings sit on woven mats across the ground, and a crowd of people in white ritual clothing sits on the left. A bearded man in orange and white on the right holds a ceremonial staff.2006-07-12July 12 20062006-07-12Outdoor ritual photo under a large banyan tree beside a garlanded canopy. A long-haired man in saffron robes and a rudraksha mala sits on a black folding chair, smiling, with a white cloth over his lap, and a bearded man in white dhoti and saffron shawl beside him holds a trident. Saffron-robed men stand and move around brass vessels and small offering trays on woven mats, and a kneeling devotee in saffron cloth bows with his forehead on a red patterned carpet at the seated man's feet. Other people in white stand in the background. The seated figure shows appearance cues of a person as a presiding ritual guru.2006-07-12Outdoor ritual gathering beneath a tree with white flower garlands hanging overhead. A standing row of men in saffron-orange robes holds long bamboo staffs and brass vessels, while seated men in orange and white watch. In the centre, a man with long dark hair, orange robe, rudraksha mala and a vibhuti-marked forehead sits on a folding chair, facing a standing man in orange with a trident. A devotee in orange prostrates on a red-patterned mat at his feet. Brass plates with offerings, kumkum and small vessels are arranged on woven mats on the ground. Probable Swamiji (long swept-back hair, orange robe, rudraksha mala) seated and receiving the prostration; trident-bearing man and others in orange are devotees or sannyasis.2006-07-12Outdoor ritual gathering under a large tree strung with white flower garlands. Several young men in orange robes stand with brass kalasha pots and staffs, while a woman in orange sits on a low stool and a standing man in an orange shawl and white dhoti watches. A young woman in orange kneels on a red patterned rug arranging a rod, with brass pots and offering plates set on mats around her. Many men in white dhotis and white garments sit in the background. Appearance-based candidate: a man with long swept-back hair and beard in an orange shawl, a person, standing at right with a staff. The woman seated at center wears an orange robe with rudraksha beads.2006-07-12Outdoor ritual gathering under a tree with garlands of white and orange flowers strung overhead. In the centre, a man with long dark hair and a beard sits on a folding chair in a saffron-orange robe over white dhoti, holding a ceremonial staff. Standing to his right, a man in an orange robe holds a long staff and a small metal vessel. A monk in orange kneels on a red patterned rug before him, bowing forehead to the ground. Two shaved-headed monks in orange robes and rudraksha beads stand at left; a seated monk in orange performs puja at a row of brass plates, lamps and offerings on woven mats. Behind them, thirty or more devotees in white clothes sit on the ground watching the ritual. Probable Swamiji (probable) seated centre with long hair, saffron robe and rudraksha beads, presiding over the ceremony as the central figure.2006-07-12July 12 20062006-07-12