Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a group stick dance inside a hall with a white tiled floor and a dark red drape behind them. Men in saffron-orange dhotis and sarongs, and in white dhotis with gold borders, strike short rods with one another while stepping in a circle. A young man in a white t-shirt and grey trousers, with a red cloth over his shoulder, stands in the foreground holding a rod. Behind them a golden deity murti or altar stands under a red-draped backdrop, and framed portraits hang on the walls, with a few spectators at the edges.

More like this

Open the gallery
Men in a hall perform a stick dance during Navaratri, holding colored sticks. Those in saffron-orange dhotis and red shoulder cloths face each other in pairs, while others in white dhotis and white shirts with red shawls join in. A decorated deity murti stands in an ornate gold frame at the back, flanked by a maroon curtain and bright pink lighting. Sheets of tiled floor and a row of seated women in orange saris are visible at the edges.2016-10-03A photograph of a stick-fighting or staff-play performance in an indoor hall with a polished floor and red draped curtains behind. Several men and boys in saffron-orange dhotis and sleeveless orange garments stand in two facing lines, holding slender wooden staffs. A shirtless man in a white dhoti with golden border stands at right holding a staff. A boy in an orange kurta with a white headband stands centre, and a boy in a lavender kurta stands among the group. Some performers wear rudraksha mala necklaces and bangles. A camera on a tripod and a stage light appear in the background. This is a live performance, not a ritual homa.2016-10-03Indoor photo of a group of men performing a stick dance in a bright hall with a white tiled ceiling and glossy white floor. Several dancers in orange and saffron dhotis, some bare-chested, swing thin wooden sticks with coloured tips. A man in a red kurta on the far left also raises a stick. In the background, men in white dhotis and white shirts with red shawls watch and move among the dancers. Framed pictures line the right wall beside a red curtain and a draped table.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03A group of devotees perform a stick-based ritual dance in a bright hall with pale tiled floor. In the foreground, a young man in a red kurta with a red-patterned cloth holds a short purple stick and raises an arm. Beside him, a man in a white dhoti with gold borders and a saffron-coloured sash holds a bundle of coloured sticks, and a man in an orange dhoti with a rudraksha mala and sandalwood tilak twirls a stick. Behind them, more men in white dhotis with red shawls and orange garments move in rhythm, some with sticks held aloft. Devotional decorations hang on the wall at the back of the room.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03Photograph of a energetic group stick dance inside a bright white-tiled hall with a glossy floor. Several men in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls, some bare-chested with rudraksha malas, swing thin coloured sticks in mid-motion, one lifting a leg in a dance step. Other men in white dhotis and red-and-white shawls dance alongside them. Blurred motion emphasises the rhythm of the performance. At the right edge, part of a decorated deity canopy or peetha display with red-and-gold draping is visible. Ceiling fans and fluorescent lights hang overhead. About 25 people are visible.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03A photograph inside a hall with white square ceiling tiles, ceiling fans and fluorescent lights. A group of men in saffron-orange dhotis, many bare-chested with rudraksha malas, hold thin wooden sticks and move in a dynamic procession-like formation down the hall. Some wear red or white shawls, and a few in white clothing stand farther back. A man in a red garment at the left edge leans toward the group. No one is identifiable as a distinctive candidate by the qualifying cues, so the figures are described by role and dress.2016-10-03A photograph of a large group of men performing a stick-based ritual dance in a marble-floored hall. Many dancers wear white dhotis and white kurta-style shirts with red-orange shawls draped over their shoulders and red waist sashes, holding thin decorated sticks. In the centre foreground a man in a white shirt, red shawl and red-tipped strings holds a stick. To the right a bare-chested dancer with a white forehead band, rudraksha beads and a saffron cloth around his waist also holds sticks. A man at left wears a teal shirt and white dhoti. Behind them a wall displays framed deity pictures and an orange ceremonial umbrella.2016-10-03October 03 20162016-10-03