Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night ritual at an outdoor temple-style gathering. In the left foreground a shaved-headed man in a white dhoti with a yellow-bordered cloth and a rudraksha mala holds a silver lamp (kalasha-style vessel) with a large flame, while a crowd of devotees behind raises hands in prayer and reaches toward the fire. A large terracotta pot or fire vessel stands at right with smoke rising. Streetlights glow in the background. Devotees wear white and bright saris and bangles. Appears to be a fire offering or aarti.

More like this

Open the gallery
April 17 20112011-04-17July 01 20142014-07-01November 18 20152015-11-18Night outdoor photograph of a crowd at a Chitra Pournami gathering at Tiruvannamalai Adheenam. In the foreground, a shaved-headed young sannyasi in white dhoti with a saffron-edged cloth and rudraksha mala holds a silver lamp with a flame and gives blessings, with his palm raised toward devotees. Several devotees, some in white and some in blue and green saris, stand with hands raised and eyes covered in reverence. A woman in white with a rudraksha mala and tilak stands at left, and a man in white shirt holds a plate at right. Street lamps and smoke or incense haze glow in the dark background.2011-04-17November 18 20152015-11-18Night-time photograph of a priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border, barefoot, holding a brass plate of flame (aarti) toward a row of seated women with palms pressed together in devotion. A woman in blue sari and another in green-bordered sari are prominent; a woman in white sari with a green bag sits at left, and a woman in purple shawl and glasses stands among them. Behind them, more white-clad devotees and dark figures stand near a glowing orange structure, with lamps in the background.2010-11-12Evening photograph of a devotional ritual in a crowd. In the foreground, a shaved-headed young man in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested, wears a rudraksha mala and a small hoop earring, with white vibhuti marks on his forehead and shoulder. He stands with hands raised over a brass aarti lamp with a bright flame held by a man in a white shirt. Behind them, men in white and checked shirts crowd the scene, and garlanded deity murti or decorated figures appear at the upper right with jasmine garlands and draped cloth. A small brass bell hangs from the lamp stand.2014-07-01July 07 20152015-07-07November 18 20152015-11-18Night outdoor ritual at a temple-like courtyard with a white marble floor. A young priest in white dhoti and shawl with maroon-red borders stands barefoot, holding a silver plate with a lit flame, offering aarti to a row of devotees who extend their hands toward the fire in gesture of receiving blessings. Women in saris, including a woman in a purple shawl, a woman in an orange sari with green, and a woman in a light blue sari, press palms together. Hanging decorative banners in red, orange and yellow line the background, with more devotees in white seated and standing behind. An aarti ceremony with devotees receiving the flame.2010-11-12July 15 20112011-07-15November 18 20152015-11-18