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A photograph of a ceremonial initiation on a stage. A seated man with long swept-back dark hair, a red saffron-toned wrap and a brown rudraksha mala wears a red garment and holds a silver trident aloft with one hand while placing his other palm on the forehead of a shaved-headed man in white ritual clothing with white ash markings on his arms and shoulders. A gold-carved chair stands behind the seated figure, and another person in dark attire and a black turban appears at the left edge. The setting suggests a sannyasi initiation rite, with the trident and rudraksha mala as prominent symbols. Two people are visible, with a third partially visible at the left edge.

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A seated man in red saffron robes and a long rudraksha mala sits on an ornate gold throne, placing one hand on the bald head of a shaved-headed devotee in a white dhoti with white stripe markings on his shoulders, while raising a silver trident (trishul) with the other hand. Beside them, a second robed figure with dreadlocked hair and red robes sits with eyes lowered, and a white-clad attendant stands behind. The setting is a ceremonial stage with red cloth and a gold-carved backdrop. a person is not verified from the page; the seated figure's appearance (long swept-back hair, rudraksha mala, saffron robe) is noted only as a candidate.2016-04-22A photograph of a ceremonial initiation on a stage with a gilded ornate throne. A man with long dark hair wearing a red shawl and a rudraksha mala with multiple strands presses one hand to the shaved head of a kneeling initiate, while raising a silver trident-topped staff with the other. The initiate wears a white dhoti with gold border, gold and wooden bead necklaces, rudraksha bracelets, and white sacred ash markings on the chest and arm. Behind them, a shaved-headed monk in red and another person in white sit nearby, and a figure with a topknot in red robes is at the left edge.2016-04-22A photograph of a bald man in white dhoti with gold border and a gold-chain necklace, seated with hands raised and eyes closed, receiving a touch on the forehead from a long-haired man with dreadlocks wearing a red-orange shawl over a red sleeveless garment. Behind them, two men in white dhotis with gold borders stand, and a wooden doorway and red curtain are visible in the background. Gold ornamental pillar at right. Swamiji (probable): the long-haired man in red-orange shawl with long dreadlocked hair and a gold-chain necklace is the distinctive figure, performing a blessing touch on the seated devotee's forehead.2017-07-14 +1 copiesA photo of two men at close range in a red-draped hall. On the left, a man with long dark hair in a bun, bare-shouldered and wearing an orange-red cloth with a gold chain necklace and a white tilak on his forehead, extends his right hand to touch the forehead of a bald man on the right, who wears a plain white kurta. Behind them is a golden deity murti or ornate figure, and a lit oil lamp hangs at the left edge. Bamboo screens and a partially visible seated figure appear in the background. A man in orange-red clothing giving a blessing with his palm on another's head suggests a darshan or blessing moment.2014-07-15A photograph of a ceremonial initiation on a stage. A seated man in red-orange robes with long swept-back dark hair and a brown-beaded rudraksha mala over his shoulder holds a silver trident-tipped staff against the forehead of a shaved-headed initiate kneeling in a white garment with gold trim. Behind him is an ornate gold throne with carved details. On the left, a man with a tall dark topknot and red robes with a rudraksha mala watches. A woman in white with gold trim sits in the background. Red cloth lies on the armrest, and a microphone is visible at the right edge.2016-04-22A seated man in rust-orange draped cloth, bare-shouldered, with long dark hair swept back and a white forehead mark, extends his right hand with a red thread bracelet to touch the bald head of a man in a white collared shirt who faces him with palms pressed together. Behind them stand an ornate silver throne with leopard-print cushions and tall silver staffs topped with a trident and a decorative finial. The purple-lit stage backdrop suggests a ritual initiation. Swamiji (probable): the seated figure has long swept-back hair, a rust-orange wrap, a gold pendant necklace and a throne, meeting the guideline cues for a candidate presence.2018-05-17 +1 copiesApril 22 20162016-04-22July 17 20122012-07-17A photograph of a seated man in rust-orange saffron robes with long swept-back hair and a red tilak on his forehead, smiling as he raises one hand to the head of a bare-chested young man in a white dhoti with a yellow-and-white sash. The seated figure sits on an ornate gold throne with a red cushion, in front of deep red drapes. The kneeling devotee places his hand on the seated man's chest. a person (appearance-based label) is seated on the throne, giving a blessing to the devotee, consistent with a darshan moment.2017-07-14A bare-chested man with long dark locks, a white vibhuti stripe on his forehead, a white and red flower garland and a rudraksha-style brown shawl places his right hand on the forehead of an older, grey-haired man in a white collared shirt with a red-and-orange lanyard, who presses his palms together in reverence. A tall gold pole stands between them against a dark red drape. The bare-chested figure has distinctive long hair, garland and ornaments, so he is a person candidate receiving the other man in a blessing; a second partially visible person stands at the left edge.2016-07-01A photograph of a ceremonial initiation on a stage. A man with long dark hair, a white tilak on his forehead and a rust-orange robe places his right hand on the head of a shirtless, brown-haired man in a white dhoti-style cloth who wears a rudraksha mala and red sacred thread on his wrist. The recipient's palm rests on the initiator's arm. Behind them is an ornate silver-toned backdrop with a trident motif and a blue-lit panel. Two people are visible: the initiator and the recipient, with a partial third figure at the left edge. The scene reads as a blessing or initiation rite.2018-05-17April 13 20182018-04-13