Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Two performers in elaborate Kali-style costume stand side by side against a red wall with string lights. The figure on the left has orange-red painted skin, a tongue extended, a jeweled crown with a golden headdress, multiple arms holding weapons, and a garland of white, yellow and pink flowers over a beaded necklace. The figure on the right has dark green painted skin, a tongue extended, an ornate crown with red and blue feathered backing, large gold earrings, a gem-studded collar and garlands of flowers, holding a trident and other implements. Both costumes are richly decorated with bright colours and sequins.

More like this

Open the gallery
A costumed performer in a procession, dressed as a multi-armed deity with green-painted face and body, a long protruding orange tongue, and a tall red and yellow crown with flame-like plumes. The figure wears a gold and jewelled breastplate, orange and red marigold garlands, and bangled arms holding ceremonial implements, including a trident-like staff and a rattle. Behind, a crowd of onlookers watches in the dim evening light, including a woman in a red and green sari with gold jewellery and a man in a white shirt. The deity murti is shown as a living costume rather than a statue.2016-12-09Night street procession with performers in elaborate costumes resembling mythic demon figures with fiery orange and red crowns, many arms, and green-and-blue bodies adorned with flower garlands and gold trim. In the foreground, a figure in green with gold jewelry and a tall black wig dances beside others. Behind them, onlookers in saffron, white and bright dresses watch, some holding long staffs, and drummers and attendants move through a crowd lit by warm lamps.2016-12-09December 09 20162016-12-09May 01 20162016-05-01Four costumed performers stand together at a night procession outdoors against a red wall strung with small coloured fairy lights and hanging lanterns. The figure on the left has green skin, multiple arms, a red and gold flame-like headdress, and is draped in layered garlands of orange, red and white flowers with a large gold and jewelled chest ornament. Next is a figure with white face paint, a tall dark crown, a gold trident and a leopard-print garment with white dhoti. Beside them a woman with white face markings and a gold headdress wears a green and gold skirt and gold jewellery, hands folded in greeting. On the right a dark-skinned figure wears a feathered gold headdress, a gold trident-like staff, heavy gold necklaces and a striped pink and gold skirt. Several onlookers in white and light shirts stand at the right edge. The scene resembles a deity-themed street performance rather than a seated ritual, with the costumed figures as the focus.2016-12-09January 12 20152015-01-12 +1 copiesPhotograph of a large deity murti of Goddess Kali with blue skin, protruding red tongue, and wild black hair, surrounded by many raised arms holding weapons and ritual objects. She wears a gold crown, a garland of white skulls, and thick garlands of red, orange, yellow and white flowers, with severed heads at her feet. A leopard-skin cloth lies beneath the murti. The surrounding background shows more arms and foliage.2010-08-09Night photograph of a street procession. In the centre, a performer in an elaborate Kali-style costume with teal-painted skin, a red tongue, a large ornate crown and multiple raised arms holds a spear and garlands of orange and pink flowers over a colourful patterned dress. A second costumed figure in yellow and red stands behind. A crowd of onlookers in pastel shirts, saris and white clothes lines the roadside under strings of multicoloured lights and a red-tinged backdrop. The scene reads as a procession of ritual dancers rather than a depiction of a person.2016-12-09Night procession with performers in elaborate costume and face paint. On the left, a figure with a blue face, a red-and-gold crown and several green arms holds a golden trident, its body draped in orange and red garlands. Beside it, a performer with white face paint, a tall headdress, a leopard-print garment and a golden trident-like staff wears garlands. In the centre, a performer in green and gold embroidered dress with long dark hair and a gold crown raises one hand in blessing. On the right, a dark-faced figure in black with a large golden-and-jewelled collar, a sword and a pink-and-gold skirt wears marigold garlands. Colourful umbrellas and drummers appear in the background under bright stage lights.2016-12-09Two performers in elaborate costumes stand side by side at night in front of a red-painted wall strung with green and purple fairy lights. Both wear black masks with painted faces, protruding tongues and fanged mouths, topped by large fan-like headdresses of yellow, black and silver with snake-hood shapes. The figure on the left holds a golden staff and a curved silver blade and wears a blue and multicoloured beaded bodice, orange and white flower garlands and a yellow skirt. The figure on the right wears a large gold and jewelled collar, a magenta and gold skirt, orange and green garlands and gold bangles.2016-12-09December 09 20162016-12-09February 06 20132013-02-06