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A photograph of an outdoor ritual at an ashram site where a long white-and-red pole is being set into the ground. A man in a dark red-brown robe with long dark hair and a beard stands at right, both hands on the pole. Beside him, a man in a white dhoti and white top with rudraksha beads and a garland stands behind the pole. Three men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas kneel at the base, one packing soil with his hands, another working near the hole. Coloured rangoli powder in red, yellow, green and white and scattered pink flower petals surround the base, with yellow bricks along the edge. Bamboo, shrubs and a few clay pots frame the scene, with other white-clad people visible in the background.

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Outdoor ritual at a dirt-ground ashram site where a tall red-and-white wooden pole is being planted into the earth. A man in a long, dark-red robe with long, dreadlocked hair stands at right, holding the pole upright with both hands. Beside him, a man in a white dhoti with gold borders bends forward, pressing a long iron rod into the ground at the pole's base. Two men in orange robes with rudraksha malas kneel and crouch nearby, and a bald man in an orange cloth and beaded necklaces watches at far left. The base is decorated with a colourful rangoli of red, yellow and green powder and scattered pink flower petals, edged with yellow bricks. Bamboo and green shrubs stand behind, with a building and clear sky in the background.2016-10-06October 06 20162016-10-06Outdoors on bare dirt, four men perform a ground ritual around a tall white-and-red striped wooden pole set into a decorated base of coloured powder rangoli with scattered pink flower petals. On the left, a man in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala crouches and digs with a long stick. Next to him, a seated man in orange with a rudraksha mala tends the base. A third man in orange kneels beside the pole. On the right, a man with long swept-back dark hair, bare-chested except for a maroon garment, with a dark shawl draped over his shoulder, grips the pole with both hands. Yellow brick pavers line the foreground, and bamboo and greenery fill the background.2016-10-06October 06 20162016-10-06October 06 20162016-10-06October 06 20162016-10-06Outdoor ritual at a white-and-red striped pole set in the ground, surrounded by bamboo and a low building. A bearded man on the right with long dark hair wears a rust-red robe and rests his hands on the pole. Several men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas gather around the pole, hands raised to it, and a man in white shirt and trousers bends to pour from a black container. Rangoli-style colored powder and scattered red and white petals decorate the ground, with yellow bricks laid in a row. A woman on the left in red clothing with a yellow border watches. Papers and a bamboo-leaf backdrop complete the scene.2016-10-06October 01 20172017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01October 01 20172017-10-01Outdoor ritual at a dry earthen ground beside a tall red-and-white painted wooden pole being set upright. A man with long swept-back dark hair and bare chest, wearing a long maroon-red cloth and a rudraksha mala, stands at right with both hands on the pole. Another man in a white dhoti with a gold border kneels and works at the base, while a seated man in orange-saffron cloth with a rudraksha mala sits at the foot. Two other men in saffron clothing stand behind. Pink and yellow flower petals and a coloured rangoli design lie around the base, edged with yellow-brown bricks, with a woven basket nearby. Green trees and a building stand behind.2016-10-06Outdoor ritual at a sandy courtyard beside a red-painted pillar and a dug pit. A bare-chested priest with a saffron-brown cloth tied at the waist bends forward over the pit, hands cupped, pouring or offering into it. Behind him, a man with long dark hair, a rudraksha-style garland and a bare chest stands with hands folded in prayer. A white-clad man in a striped shawl with a gold-coloured necklace stands at left, and a boy in orange robes stands nearby. Behind them, a line of young women and girls in orange and saffron robes with garlands press palms together. Striped cloths cover the ground, with brass vessels, a green coconut, a tray of sweets and scattered flower petals in the foreground. Palm trees and a red building frame the background.2017-10-01