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Photograph of a ritual puja at a temple ceremony. A person with long, swept-back dark hair and a bare shoulder, wearing a saffron-orange robe with a red cloth, sits and pours water from a silver vessel with a long spout over a sand-covered platform decorated with flowers. Behind, a red-draped altar holds gold-framed deity murtis, a garlanded deity image with marigold and tulsi-style garlands, and a brass bowl sits in front. Clusters of kalasha pots wrapped in netting and adorned with red flowers and green leaves stand on the platform, marking a sanctification rite. A bell-shaped microphone is visible near the seated figure. The visible cues of long hair, saffron robe and ceremonial gold necklace are consistent with the presenting candidate, so the appearance-based label applies.

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A photograph of a puja ritual on a red-draped stage. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes with a gold necklace sits cross-legged, handing a wand-like ritual implement over a tray of decorated kalasha pots wrapped in mesh and garlanded with red flowers and green leaves. A younger man in a white shirt assists beside him. Behind them a deity murti is adorned with multicoloured garlands, and brass lamps, a metal pot and flower offerings sit on the altar in front. Banner lettering behind the stage reads partly, and the scene suggests a puja or dhwajastambha preparation rite.2006-09-29July 17 20062006-07-17A seated man with long, swept-back dark hair wears an orange-saffron robe and a gold bracelet, presiding over a fire ritual on a raised platform. He leans forward to place an offering into a silver bowl on a decorated altar of earth and flowers. Behind him, deity murti are dressed with yellow, red and green flower garlands and gold crowns, set against a draped white cloth. Banana stalks, sugarcane poles, and banana leaves frame the tent. Orange and white flower garlands line the altar. Two shaven-headed assistants in orange-saffron robes sit in the background, and a silver kalasha and offering vessels sit on the platform. This appears to be a homa/yagna in a temple tent.2006-07-17September 29 20062006-09-29A photograph of an outdoor ritual set under cream draped cloth. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes, with a gold chain and a gold bangle, sits on a low white-and-orange seat with his palms held together over a fire pit. The fire pit is a tiered brown earthen platform decorated with orange and pink flower garlands, with silver vessels and oil lamps placed around it. Behind him stand gold-framed deity murtis draped in multicolored flower garlands, and to the right are rows of banana-leaf offerings and pink flowers. A large framed portrait of a man in a saffron turban hangs on the upper right. Banana bunches hang overhead. Several people are not visible in the frame, and the man is seated in a manner consistent with a homa-style fire offering.2006-07-17 +1 copiesJuly 17 20062006-07-17A photograph of a fire ritual under a decorated temporary pavilion. A figure with long dark hair wearing an orange-saffron robe and gold necklace sits on a low platform, reaching toward a brass bowl and holding a long orange stick over a row of offering vessels and small lamps. A second, partly visible person in dark clothing sits behind him. Behind the altar, deity murti decorated with garlands of yellow and orange flowers are displayed, and banana bunches and palm leaves hang above. Marigold garlands edge the altar platform.2006-07-17A seated figure in an orange-saffron robe and gold beaded necklace sits on a red-cushioned chair before a ritual altar, holding a lit oil lamp in one hand and a small offering vessel in the other. The figure has long dark hair swept back and a red mark on the forehead. Behind the altar, two deity murtis are adorned with garlands of yellow, red and green flowers, and a framed portrait hangs at the upper right. Silver vessels, banana bunches, and tiered offerings of flowers, fruit and sweets surround a wooden platform decorated with orange marigold and white jasmine garlands. A palm-frond and banana-leaf decoration frames the scene. Probable Swamiji seated in orange robes with long hair and a gold necklace performing a fire-offering ritual during a yajna.2006-07-17A photograph of a ritual in progress at a temple-style altar. A seated figure with long, loose dark hair wears a saffron-orange garment, gold necklaces and bangles, and holds a round metal plate or tray toward the offerings. Behind, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" hangs on a banner reading "Dhyana" and "...ananda...ja". The altar holds a garlanded deity murti under a floral arch with red, green and yellow garlands, a smaller gold-framed deity figure, decorated kalasha pots wrapped in netting and marigold garlands, and brass vessels. A person in pink cloth sits at the left edge.2006-09-29A seated man in an orange saffron robe performs a fire offering at a homa pit lined with pink and white roses and orange marigold garlands. He holds a wooden stick toward the fire, and a silver bowl sits beside him. Smoke rises across the front of the stage. Behind him are large deity murti adorned with yellow, green, red and white garlands, and a backdrop stands on a cloth canopy with hanging banana bunches. The man wears long dark hair, a rudraksha-style necklace, and a gold chain. Silver lamps flank the altar.2006-07-17 +1 copiesA seated man in saffron-orange robes with long, swept-back dark hair and a gold necklace of ceremonial beads performs a fire ritual at a microphone. He holds a flower and sits on a red-and-gold throne-style seat before a silver lamp and offering bowls, with smoke rising from the lamp. Behind him, two gold deity murti stand adorned with garlands of yellow, orange and white flowers, and stalks of sugarcane frame the scene. Marigold and white flower arrangements line the altar in front. Swamiji (probable): the seated man shows long swept-back hair, saffron robes, and a gold bead necklace, and is the central officiant of the yajna.2006-07-17A photograph of a fire ritual at an outdoor temple-style setting. A man with long dark hair and an orange-saffron robe sits on a cloth seat, holding a wooden ladle or stick over a clay altar. Behind him, a second man in white stands partly visible. Two decorated deity murtis with multicoloured flower garlands, including a metal face murti, sit on a raised platform under draped cream fabric. Rows of small clay lamps or offering pots filled with flowers and leaves are arranged on the right. Orange and pink flowers line the altar base, with oil lamps and a silver-rimmed bowl nearby. A portrait of a smiling man in a yellow head wrap is shown on the right wall. Banana bunches and coconuts hang from the upper left. Abhishekam-style offering or homa-type fire ritual.2006-07-17