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A close photograph of a folk ritual performer in a festival procession at a South Indian temple town. In the foreground a man wears an ornate gold crown with a cobra-hood shaped top, a long white hair mane falling to his shoulders, a white forehead band with a tilak, dark face makeup, a large curled moustache, a rudraksha mala and a white flower garland over gold-embroidered red-and-gold clothing. A second performer with a similar gold crown and white hair stands to the left, and a long silver staff or sword blade runs diagonally across the frame. Behind them are a multicoloured temple gateway and a man in a green-and-red turban and red shirt among onlookers. No visible identification of a person is supported by the appearance cues.

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A photograph of a costumed festival performer standing in an outdoor procession crowd beneath trees and a strand of green bunting. He wears an ornate gold crown with a tall feathered plume, a red headcloth, a white-and-red painted face with a vertical white tilak and red bindi, and a white mane of hair. He has a large gold chest plate and layered brown rudraksha malas. He holds a long gold staff and a curved sword at the left edge. Behind him, many men in shirts and white clothing watch. No a person candidate is visible in the frame.2007-02-02Two costumed performers stand in a procession in front of a flower-decorated float. Both wear ornate gold crowns shaped like a hooded cobra, with long pale hair falling beside their faces. Their faces are painted with white forehead bands, red eye and cheek markings and black upturned moustaches. The left performer wears an orange garment with a gold collar, white pearl necklace and rudraksha mala; the right wears red and gold armour-like chest plates with a rudraksha mala. Each holds a long blade or spear. Behind them a painted portrait of an elderly bearded man with white hair is set among garlands of yellow and orange marigolds and pink flowers. Onlookers stand in the background.2007-02-02Outdoor procession photographed from low angle under a blue sky and trees. Two large costumed figures in front, one at left and one at right, wear tall ornate gilded crowns with cascading white hair, white and red tilak painted on their foreheads, mustaches, and dark rudraksha beaded necklaces over red and orange garments with floral garlands. Behind them, a man in white shirt and dhoti and others stand in the crowd, and a ceremonial pot-shaped vessel decorated with flowers and blue tinsel is raised above the heads. A large red ceremonial banner with a painted figure is visible at the right edge. No identifiable a person candidate is present in the frame.2007-02-02A street procession with performers in elaborate costume. In the foreground, a performer in red and gold clothing wears a tall gilded crown with a feathered ornament, white-and-red face paint, a dark drawn moustache and a heavy gold chest plate over layered rudraksha beads. Beside him, a performer with a white feathered headdress holds a sword, and another in red holds a shield-like gold piece. Behind them, a decorated float or palanquin covered with white, yellow and magenta flower garlands is carried along. Spectators in light shirts and a straw hat line the road under trees and a clear blue sky.2007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02A procession in an outdoor street setting under trees, with three performers in elaborate costume at the front. Each wears a tall gilded crown with white plumes, red and white face paint with white tilak marks, and a large gold chest plate over red and orange garments. Long rudraksha mala necklaces hang across their chests. The central performer holds a sword, and the figure at right grips a curved sword with a gold hilt. Behind them, a crowd of men in shirts and white dhotis watches, and a decorated float with garlands of yellow flowers and multicoloured tassels stands at left. Strings of bunting cross the sky above.2007-02-02Outdoor procession scene under trees with a crowd on a roadside. In the foreground, two performers in ornate costume with painted faces, golden crowns and long white wigs hold a sword and a shield; the left one wears an orange tunic with rudraksha beads and gold armour, the right one wears red and gold garments with a round gold shield. Behind them, a decorated ratha or palanquin is covered in garlands of yellow and orange flowers and a silver arched canopy, bearing a framed portrait of a bearded saint with a red-and-white garland. Onlookers in saris and shirts stand along the road, and a police officer in khaki is visible at left. The scene reads as a festival or temple procession.2007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02Outdoor photograph of a street procession in Karnataka with three performers in elaborate costume on a dirt road under large trees. Foreground performer holds a long sword and wears a gold crown, red and gold bodice, rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, bells at the ankles and a round gold shield at the hip. Two companions beside him wear gold crowns, white fringed headdresses, orange and red tunics and bells, one holding a round shield. A drummer in white at right holds a large drum. Behind them, a crowd of onlookers in white shirts, saris and a uniformed police officer, with a decorated float or chariot and bunting in the background.2007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02Two costumed performers in a street procession stand in front of a banner, wearing elaborate gold crowns with white plumes, red tunics with gold shoulder pieces and gold circular shields, and rudraksha-style beaded necklaces over purple and blue brocade sashes. The figure in front holds a long curved sword and the other holds a shorter blade, both wielding weapons upright. Behind them a man in a white shirt and orange shawl stands beside a red and yellow canopy with tassels, and the street has a plain concrete wall with foliage above.2016-04-18