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Night photo of a fire-walking ritual in an open outdoor area. A woman in a white sari with a red-marked forehead and a beaded necklace walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers and ash, with raised earthen sides. Around the pit, a dense crowd of people in white dhotis and white shirts stands behind wooden poles and barricades, watching. A man in the lower right wears a white shirt and dhoti, and a man at the right edge wears an orange garment. A lit lamp structure sits at the top of the frame and string lights hang overhead. The scene reads as a devotional fire-walking event.

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Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual in a crowded outdoor temple area. A woman in a white sari walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers and ash, with raised wooden poles lining the path. Many men in white dhotis and shirts stand along the sides and behind, and a large crowd of spectators fills the foreground and background. A lit ceremonial structure or temple tower with lamps is visible in the distance under strings of pennant flags. A blue bucket sits at lower left.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual in an open outdoor area. A long trench of glowing embers and ash runs down the centre, and a woman in white clothes with a white garland and dark head covering walks barefoot across it while devotees in white dhotis and shirts line the path. Behind her a lit temple chariot with a canopy and lamps stands under strings of bunting. A large crowd of spectators in white and coloured saris and kurtas watches from both sides, held back by wooden poles.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple celebration. In the centre, a woman in a white blouse and striped white-and-purple shawl walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers bordered by earth banks. Behind and beside her, many people in white dhotis and white shirts stand along bamboo railings, with a few in saffron or orange garments among them. On the right, a man in a white shirt raises an arm holding a camera or object above the crowd. A lit temple structure or canopy glows in the distance. Many onlookers, including women in saris and children, crowd the scene.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple gathering. A central path of glowing embers runs between two earthen trenches, and a man in a white dhoti and white shirt walks across it carrying a drum. Dense crowds of devotees in white dhotis, white shirts and saris stand on both sides, held back by tall bamboo poles. A flaming ratha or procession structure with lights is visible in the distance. A man in white with a camera stands at the right edge.2006-12-30Night photo of a crowded outdoor temple procession with devotees in white clothes lining both sides of a path. A woman in a white sari with a green border walks across a long shallow pit of glowing embers and hot ash, a fire-walking scene. Drummers in white dhotis play drums on the right, and devotees in white hold long wooden poles to keep the crowd back. In the background an illuminated palanquin or ratha stands under a bright lamp beneath palm fronds, with white decorated arches and strings of bunting overhead. A devotee in white with a red-and-orange shawl and beaded necklace stands near the front of the procession, with a photographer at the left edge.2007-12-30Night photo of a fire-walking ritual on a dirt-banked pit filled with glowing embers and grey ash. A woman in a white sari with an orange border walks barefoot across the coals at the centre, while men in white dhotis and shirts stand along bamboo railings on both sides. Spectators crowd behind, many women in blue and patterned saris and children in front. A lit kalasha-style lamp and decorated structure glow in the background, and a man in white holds up a camera. The a person candidate is not clearly identifiable from appearance, so no identity is asserted.2006-12-30Night-time fire-walking ritual in a temple courtyard. A woman in a white sari walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers bordered by earthen edges, while onlookers stand behind bamboo barriers. Many devotees in white dhotis and white kurtas watch closely; a man in the foreground in white with a bare head and a beard stands near the pit, and a man at right in white with an orange cloth over his shoulder and red-and-white beads raises a camera. Several children and women in colourful clothes look on from the right. No figure is clearly identifiable as the a person with confidence from appearance alone.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at an outdoor temple event. A woman in white clothes with a light beige jacket walks barefoot across a long pit of glowing embers and ash. Along both sides of the pit, men and women in white dhotis and kurtas, some in orange shawls, stand behind bamboo poles and wooden barriers, with a crowd of devotees in saris and colourful clothing behind them. A man in white with a grey beard stands in the foreground at the pit edge, and a bucket sits at the lower left. White tents and a decorated ratha or palanquin are visible at the top. The pit is lined with earth and logs.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual at a temple. A woman in a pale shawl and white clothes walks barefoot along a long trench of glowing embers lined with dirt banks. Men in white dhotis and shirts stand along the trench, one gesturing toward her. Dense crowds in white and colourful saris line wooden barriers on both sides, and an illuminated temple ratha or shrine stands in the background under string lights and banners. A blue bucket sits at the lower left.2006-12-30Night photograph of a fire-walking ritual with a long trench of glowing embers in the foreground. A woman in a pink sari walks barefoot across the coals with her hands pressed together in prayer. White-clad devotees and men in white dhotis line both sides behind wooden stakes and rope barriers, with a crowd of spectators beyond. A blue bucket sits at the left edge near the trench. In the background a decorated palanquin or ratha with a lit deity murti and a kalasha rises above the crowd under strings of pennant bunting and a white canopy. Two men in white stand near the front right edge, one looking toward the walker.2006-12-30December 30 20062006-12-30A night photograph of a fire-walking ritual on a dirt path lined with glowing embers and ash. A young woman in a white kurta and white trousers walks barefoot across the coals. Along the edges, devotees in white dhotis and white saris stand behind wooden railings, watching. In the foreground at right, a bald, white-bearded man in white dhoti and shirt with a gold wristwatch stands looking on. Background shows a crowd and a lit ornamented structure.2006-12-30