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Photograph of a Shiva Deeksha initiation session in a bare hall with pale walls and a tiled floor. Several bald men in white dhotis with gold borders, bare-chested and wearing rudraksha malas, have white vertical tilak marks on their foreheads and bodies. In the foreground, a bald man in a white dhoti and gold-bordered shawl holds a small book while smiling beside a man with long swept-back dark hair and a white dhoti who holds a brass bowl of yellow flowers. Two round wicker baskets and a black tray of marigold-like flowers sit on a checkered red-and-brown table cloth. A woman in a white sari with a lanyard stands behind a side table holding baskets of yellow petals, and more initiates in white dhotis stand in the background near shelves of folded cloth.

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April 26 20172017-04-26April 26 20172017-04-26April 26 20172017-04-26April 26 20172017-04-26April 26 20172017-04-26Indoor ritual scene in a plain hall with tiled floor and a reflective mirror panel on the wall. Several men in white dhotis with gold borders and sacred white markings on their foreheads and bodies, wearing rudraksha malas, perform a ritual. A standing man in the center holds a wooden object while another man in a white dhoti and mala is in front. On the red-and-green checked table sit a brass bowl and a black tray filled with yellow flowers, and a wicker basket of flowers. A woman in a white sari with gold border stands in the background beside a table with cloth. Oil lamps are at the left edge.2017-04-26Photograph of a Shiva Deeksha initiation hall with participants in traditional white dhoti and shawl clothing with gold borders, many bare-chested and wearing rudraksha malas and white sacred ash markings on their bodies. A shaved-headed man in the centre holds a small offering while a woman with long dark hair receives it. Foreground: a checked tablecloth with a brass bowl of yellow flowers, a wicker basket of marigold petals and a black tray of yellow flowers. Left: a man in white dhoti holds a small booklet. Background: a large screen showing a bearded figure in orange robes and garlands above a brass oil lamp on a draped table, with shelves of folded fabric at the rear.2017-04-26January 08 20172017-01-08October 22 20142014-10-22 +1 copiesA photograph of a Hindu puja ritual with several people seated on the floor around a gold tray. A shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti and shawl, with a tripundra on his forehead and rudraksha mala around his neck, holds a small white box with a red flower and offers it to a woman in a cream sari with gold border. Silver bowls on the gold tray hold apples, flowers and other offerings. Another priest in white with yellow-bordered dhoti sits to the right holding a flower-topped offering. Foreground devotees in white and yellow clothing look on, one holding a printed booklet. The priest in the center does not qualify as an appearance-based candidate for a person.2010-10-20A seated group of initiates in a bright hall with pink walls, wooden chairs and wooden doors. In the foreground, several bare-chested men wear white dhotis with gold borders, rudraksha mala necklaces and white sacred ash markings on their foreheads and arms. The central man has his hands joined in front of him and holds a small object, while others sit with palms pressed together in prayer. Background participants in white clothes sit in rows. A wall notice board and framed pictures hang on the walls.2017-04-26A photograph of a group of shaven-headed priests in white dhotis and white shawls seated on a floor for a puja, with brass lamps, bells and small brass pots on a mat in front of them. Several men hold lit oil lamps and bells, and one priest on the right raises his arm to hold a lamp near his forehead. Their faces bear white vertical tilaka marks, and some wear rudraksha malas. In the foreground right, a tray holds fruit, flowers and kumkum-coloured offerings. Seven people are visible.2011-09-10