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Nithyanandapedia
Outdoor festival scene on bare red earth under a canopy. Four bare-chested men in white dhotis perform energetic drum and cymbal music: each plays a cymbal raised overhead while a barrel drum rests before him, bodies arched backward. Behind them a crowd of devotees in white shirts, white and red saris, and saffron garments watches. Near the back, a figure in an orange headwrap and orange robes stands on a raised platform beneath a white arch, but the appearance is too uncertain to identify him. Gold-edged ritual decorations and a draped orange fabric hang from the canopy.

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July 28 20082008-07-28July 28 20082008-07-28July 28 20082008-07-28Outdoor festival scene under a canopy with a red earth floor. Several shirtless men in white dhotis perform percussion with large cylindrical drums, some seated and others standing, while two men face each other striking small cymbals or handbells. Behind them a crowd of onlookers in white shirts, saffron, pink and yellow saris and casual clothes watches closely. In the upper background a figure in orange robes and a tall orange headpiece stands on a raised platform near a banner, with a white-clad attendant beside him. A drumming ensemble in Chanda Melam style, the drum performance described in the page excerpt.2008-07-28Outdoors under a thatched palm-leaf shelter, a group of drummers in white dhotis with blue shoulder cloths perform on large barrel drums with rope lacing, several men bare-chested and sweating. Some men strike the drums with sticks, others hold smaller drums and smile. A tall decorated pole with colourful painted patterns stands in the background, and onlookers gather at the edges on red earth.2008-07-28Outdoor photograph of a crowd gathered under a canopy on red earth for a public event. In the foreground, several bare-chested drummers in white dhotis sit cross-legged playing traditional barrel drums with sticks, some with blue or purple cloth draped over their shoulders and beaded necklaces. Behind them, a raised platform holds a few people in white and saffron-coloured clothing, while a large crowd of onlookers, many women in colourful saris and children, stands and sits watching. Plastic chairs and wooden poles are visible at the edges. A person in a white shirt and dhoti stands near the platform. The scene suggests a temple-style drumming ceremony during a village welcome.2008-07-28July 28 20082008-07-28December 29 20082008-12-29July 28 20082008-07-28A crowded outdoor pavilion with a red earth floor and colourful paper decorations overhead. In the foreground, bare-chested men in white dhotis play traditional drums, some with blue or light-blue cloths over their shoulders, while others strike drums held at their sides. Behind them, a crowd of onlookers in sarees and white shirts watches. At the back, a seated figure in a saffron-orange robe with a crown-like headdress sits before a large banner printed with a smiling face, and a man in white stands near the front.2008-07-28Outdoor photograph of a ceremonial music performance on reddish-brown earth. Several bare-chested young men wear white dhotis and blue or purple shoulder cloths, playing cymbal-like metal discs and drums with wooden sticks. Behind them a crowd of devotees in white shirts, saris and kurtas, including a woman in a red sari with flowers in her hair, watches and moves about. One central drummer has a sacred ash mark on his forehead and a beaded necklace. The scene resembles a Tamil chanda melam drumming group during a festive gathering.2008-07-28A group of bare-chested young men in white dhotis sit on red earth playing traditional metal hand cymbals and drums during a drum ensemble. Several wear blue or purple shawls over their shoulders, rudraksha or beaded necklaces and red wrist threads. One player in the centre grins while striking a pair of brass cymbals. Drums with rope tuning lie at the right edge, and a few other participants stand behind them in the background, some in orange or green cloth. The setting appears to be an outdoor festival or procession ensemble.2008-07-28