Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A street procession in Karnataka. Two men in ornate gold crowns and gold armour with ceremonial swords and shields lead the way, one in red with a gold breastplate and rudraksha beads, the other in orange with a gold shield and face markings. Behind them an orange tractor pulls a decorated float covered in yellow marigold garlands, with a silver arch and swan ornaments; a white-bearded painted image of a saint sits in the centre of the float. A driver in white shirt steers, and crowds of onlookers in casual shirts and caps line the dusty road under trees.

More like this

Open the gallery
A festival procession in a dusty village street under bright sun and trees. In the foreground, two performers in ornate costumes with gold headdresses, white yak-hair plumes, red face paint and gold armour carry long swords and a shield; one wears a rudraksha mala. Behind them, a decorated cart with a flower-garlanded canopy and a deity murti is pulled by a tractor-like vehicle, with more costumed attendants and drummers, and a crowd of onlookers in white and orange clothing lining the road.2007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02Outdoor 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 20072007-02-02Two 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.2007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02A 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.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.2007-02-02A 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.2007-02-02February 02 20072007-02-02February 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.2007-02-02