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A festival procession in a street in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. A robed figure in saffron stands on a golden ornate ratha (chariot) decorated with garlands and marigold strings, holding a large red flag. Crowds below press forward with palms joined in anjali gesture, many in white clothes, while some hold blank white placards on poles. A colourful umbrella with green, red and white panels shades the chariot. Two placards show Tamil script, and orange flags wave among the devotees.

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February 02 20092009-02-02Outdoor procession on a sunny street in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, with a golden ratha/chariot decorated with red drapes, marigold and multicolour garlands, and a deity murti visible in its shrine. A person in orange-saffron robes and a flower garland raises a large orange flag bearing a blue emblem high above the crowd. Beside the ratha stand blank white placards on poles and a multicoloured umbrella. Crowds of devotees, many women in white saris, press forward with hands folded in namaskar, and a few men wear white shirts. A roadside billboard with Tamil lettering stands at upper right.2009-02-02February 05 20092009-02-05Outdoor procession on dusty ground below a sandy embankment and a low wall, with banana plants and trees behind. At centre, a figure in a saffron-orange robe stands on an ornate golden palanquin (palaki) decorated with flower garlands, colourful tassels, bells and a golden canopy with a multicoloured umbrella; the palanquin is carried on gilded poles and ends in golden swan-like finials. A man in white uniform walks at the front of the palanquin and an attendant in white stands at its side. Dozens of devotees in white dhotis and off-white saris, some in orange or yellow sarees, carry saffron-orange flags bearing a red emblem and white placards. Police in khaki uniforms walk along the procession. Some on the right hold red banners, and a red vehicle is visible beside the crowd.2010-07-24December 20 20102010-12-20January 01 20122012-01-01Outdoor procession on a street with a richly decorated ratha chariot draped in marigold and multicolored flower garlands, with gilded carved panels and a deity murti visible inside. A standing figure in a long orange robe raises a large saffron flag with a blue emblem high above the crowd. Beside the chariot, a second person in orange clothing stands near a framed portrait on an easel. Devotees press in from below and a multi-storey building with balconies lines the street behind.2009-02-05Outdoor procession on a sunny day. A large ornate palanquin-style float (ratha) draped in marigold and yellow garlands sits under a red and white parasol with tassels, carrying a figure seated on a golden throne (peetha). A man in white dhoti and shawl stands on the float holding a parasol pole. Below, a crowd of mostly bald and dark-haired devotees in white shirts and orange-saffron robes presses forward, with a cameraman filming. Orange flags bearing the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam name and a golden fan-shaped standard flank the scene, with a red wall and building behind.2012-01-01A festival procession on an open dusty ground. Centre: an ornate golden palanquin-style ratha decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands, tassels and a gold-tipped canopy. Standing on it is a long-haired figure in a saffron-orange dhoti-like robe with an orange shawl, wearing a flower garland and rudraksha-style beads; the figure is distinct from the cluster of people in front. Two parasols, one multicoloured with white motifs and one orange with fringe, shade the ratha. Around it, a crowd of devotees in white kurtas and dhotis, some in yellow shawls and orange sashes, walk and hold the ratha's poles. A tent and banners stand in the background.2009-12-27July 15 20112011-07-15A festival procession moves through an outdoor grounds with dry grass and trees. At the centre, a decorated palanquin or ratha carries a seated figure under a multicoloured canopy, surrounded by marigold garlands and yellow flower strings. Crowds of devotees walk alongside, many women in saris and men in white dhotis, some holding orange and red flags. A man in orange robes stands near the front, and a cameraman films the scene. A large rocky hill rises in the background.2012-01-01A photograph of an outdoor procession on a city street. A golden ornate ratha (chariot) decorated with marigold and multicoloured flower garlands carries a deity murti at its centre. A standing figure in orange robes and a white flower garland raises one arm high, holding a large orange flag that billows above the cart. Beside the cart, a shaved-headed man in orange clothing walks, and orange flags and saffron-clad devotees fill the street, with a white multi-storey building behind. The scene is a ratha paada yatra. a person: the standing figure in orange with the raised flag is a candidate by appearance, though the view is partial and the face is not clearly visible.2009-02-05