Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a night-time ritual gathering in an open outdoor courtyard with a dark sky and string lights overhead. A shaved-headed man in a saffron-orange robe with a golden-yellow border and a rudraksha mala stands at the center, facing away, receiving a folded orange-and-red cloth offering from a man in a white dhoti with a red shawl. Behind them, devotees in white dhotis and red shawls stand with hands folded in anjali, and women in saris press palms together. Several participants have white vibhuti and tripundra markings on their foreheads. On the right, a dark stone deity murti with a garland stands on a red-tiled dais. The crowd of roughly twenty people stands in a loose line around the courtyard.

More like this

Open the gallery
Night outdoor gathering at a temple-like courtyard with string lights overhead and a crowd of onlookers behind. In the foreground, several people stand with palms pressed together in namaskar on green leaves laid on the stone floor. A man in an orange dhoti and shawl holds a folded orange cloth and wears a long rudraksha mala and a white tilak. Others wear white dhotis or kurtas with red shawls, and a woman in a white sari and red shawl stands centre with hands joined. A woman in a yellow sari kneels at lower left. Garlands and a dark deity murti appear at the right edge.2015-07-07Night photo of a ritual line outdoors on a sandy courtyard with green leaves underfoot. In the foreground a woman in white with a red shawl stands with palms pressed together in anjali. Beside her a young man with a shaved head, white vibhuti stripes and a rudraksha mala wears saffron-orange cloth with red borders and holds a folded orange cloth. Behind them a man in white with a red shawl holds a tall red-and-white stick. Women in orange and white kneel and pour water from brass pots onto the leaves, with string lights and a golden decorative frame in the background. Several other people in white and orange stand further back.2015-07-07Night-time outdoor ritual at a temple courtyard with coloured fairy lights in the background. In the foreground, a fire pit (homa kunda) with ash and embers sits in the lower centre. A man in an orange-yellow dhoti and ash markings on his forehead holds a small object as he walks past the fire pit, while behind him a line of devotees in white dhotis with red shawls stands with palms pressed together. On the right, a man seated in lotus posture wears a deep red-orange turban, red robe, white dhoti and a long beaded mala, with hands folded in front of him, appearing to be a priest or devotee. A large black linga, garlanded with yellow and white flowers, stands behind the line. Onlookers in white saris and dark clothing watch from the back. Hindu ritual setting, possibly a homa or fire ceremony.2015-07-07Night photograph of a large crowd of devotees at an outdoor temple courtyard, many standing with palms pressed together in namaskar and some with hands raised. Most wear white dhotis and white shirts, with red shawls draped over their shoulders, and several have white vibhuti marks on their foreheads. Many stand on fresh green banana leaves set on the paved floor. In the foreground, a woman in an orange saree with a red border bows low, and a sprawling crowd of onlookers fills the background under strong lights and strings of colourful lights. A tall decorated pillar or shrine structure rises at the top centre. No identifiable individual is marked as a person in this image.2016-01-02Night outdoor event with string lights in green and blue behind a row of men in white dhotis and white shirts, each wearing a rust-orange shawl and holding folded hands in namaskar. Several have white vibhuti or tilak on their foreheads and carry round white objects in their hands or tucked at their shoulders. In the lower right, a bare-chested figure in an orange-saffron dhoti with magenta border bows deeply, forehead almost touching the ground, with a white cloth over the mouth. Onlookers in white and dark clothing stand at the edge of the paved courtyard, and one person in the back holds up a camera.2016-07-18May 21 20122012-05-21September 13 20132013-09-13January 02 20162016-01-02A crowded temple hall during a procession, with devotees filling the foreground and background and golden deity figures visible behind them. In the centre, a bald, bespectacled man wears a rust-orange garment with a gold-edged yellow cloth over one shoulder and a dense rudraksha mala. Beside him, a woman with her head bowed wears an orange and gold sari with a rudraksha mala. Around them, saffron-clad priests with white tripundra markings on their foreheads and rudraksha malas stand near men in white kurtas and orange shawls. A young boy in a red top stands among the crowd, and a man in a grey shirt looks on.2016-10-09Night outdoor ritual at a temple-like courtyard strung with colourful fairy lights. In the foreground, several devotees in white clothes with red shawls stand with palms pressed in anjali, one man bending forward in prayer. A bare-headed woman in an orange-and-gold sari wearing a garland stands at right holding offerings. A seated woman in a red-and-gold sari sits on an orange chair at left, and a kneeling person in white is at centre near a shallow pit. A crowd of onlookers stands behind, many with hands folded, some in saris and shirts. The scene suggests a puja or homa-style ceremony with a fire pit in front.2015-07-07Outdoor ceremonial gathering under a leafy tree with red pillars. In the centre a man in a maroon-red robe with a long red-and-white flower garland and gold bangles stands with palms pressed together in namaskar. Around him are men and youths in saffron-orange clothes with gold borders and rudraksha malas; several wear orange turbans. Others in white dhotis with gold borders and vibhuti marks on their foreheads stand nearby. A figure on the left holds a long curved horn, and a woman on the right in orange holds a floral offering. Devotees in white stand behind, with a mat on the ground.2016-04-10Night procession on a dirt path lit by street lamps, with a crowd of devotees around. In the centre a figure in orange robes with a long rudraksha mala walks with hands folded; he has long dark hair and a sandal-coloured sash. Flanking him, shaven-headed sannyasis in saffron robes with rudraksha malas hold hands in a dancing line, while men in white dhotis with gold borders, red-bordered cloths and rudraksha malas move alongside. Onlookers in white shirts and saris watch from the sides.2011-11-09