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A photograph of a temple ritual. A long-haired man with dreadlocks, a rudraksha mala and gold necklaces, bare-chested with a saffron-orange wrap, extends his right arm and presses his palm to the head of a blond-haired person kneeling in front, who wears a rudraksha necklace and white garment. Behind them a younger man with a white-and-yellow dhoti-style garment and a rudraksha mala holds a small object near the kneeling person's head. A colourful patterned pillar and garlands are in the background, and a brass or gold ornamental object sits in the foreground.

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A seated man with long dreadlocked hair wrapped in a leopard-print headband-style turban and a rudraksha mala places his right hand on the forehead of a kneeling devotee wearing glasses and bare-chested with a beaded rudraksha necklace. He wears a rust-orange shawl over his shoulders, gold ornamental chains and a gold pendant, and sits on a leopard-print cloth. Behind him stands a second man with dreadlocks, a leopard-print headband and a white dhoti with yellow border, holding a small object near the kneeling devotee's head. A flower-decorated backdrop of yellow and red blossoms and a colourful jeweled-embroidered textile hangs behind them, and a white fan stands at the right. A monochrome person in orange robes is partly visible at left. This appears to be a blessing or initiation moment.2018-04-14October 04 20132013-10-04A photograph of a ritual blessing in an indoor hall. A person with long hair tied in a back bun, wearing a red-and-gold saffron-toned garment, a beaded necklace and bangles, extends an arm to touch the forehead of a seated middle-aged man in a maroon striped polo shirt with a rudraksha mala and a name badge. The man's hands are raised in prayer-like gesture. A golden kalasha or metal vessel sits in the lower foreground. Two women in white stand behind, and a rippled cream-and-brown backdrop fills the background. The blessing appears to be a diksha-style touch.2014-01-05September 23 20122012-09-23A seated man in an orange-red draped robe with a golden border and a brown rudraksha mala around his neck places his right hand on the forehead of a man in a white shirt with an orange-red scarf. His hair is swept back in a bun and he has a white tilak on his forehead. The recipient closes his eyes and holds his left hand near his face. Behind them, a golden-clad deity murti is decorated with yellow and red flower garlands, and two women in white with red borders stand at the right. An air conditioner and a sea-wave picture sit in the background. Appearance-based label: a person, giving a blessing in person, with the bun, orange-red robe and rudraksha mala as cues.2013-09-13Photo of a ritual blessing inside a gold-trimmed shrine room. A bare-chested devotee in a white and gold dhoti kneels with his head bowed. A man in a rust-red sleeveless robe with long dreadlocked hair pinned up, wearing rudraksha malas and a white forehead mark, places his hand on the devotee's head. Behind them, several men in white and gold dhotis stand, one holding a folded white packet with gold trim, and a figure in a red shawl with rudraksha beads. A gold deity murti stands on the right, with a small gilded framed picture and a blue-handled ceremonial staff nearby, set against a leopard-print cushion and striped floor mats.2017-07-11A photograph of a ritual initiation in a decorated temple-like hall. A long-haired man with a trimmed beard and white vibhuti marks on his forehead, wearing a bare chest and an orange-red shawl, sits and places his right hand on the head of a second man who bows forward. The recipient is bare-chested with a white-and-yellow sash and wears a rudraksha mala. Behind them are silver-toned ornamental panels, red and yellow flower garlands, a brass oil lamp, and a small fan.2018-05-24A seated man in an orange-red saffron shawl and multiple rudraksha malas, with a gold necklace and gold OM pendants, places his right hand on the head of a shaved-headed devotee kneeling before him. The devotee is bare-chested with white ash markings on his shoulders and forehead. Behind them stands a dense wall of red, yellow and white flower garlands, and a gold deity murti is partly visible at left, with a silver vessel in the foreground.2017-11-26A photograph of a ritual blessing inside a temple hall. A seated figure with long dreadlocked hair, a leopard-print headband, white tilak marks, a white flower and red rose garland, rudraksha beads and red-brown robes places a hand on the forehead of a kneeling devotee in white dhoti with a yellow-bordered shawl, his palms raised. Behind them a young attendant in orange robes, bare-chested with white body markings and rudraksha malas, holds a folded white sheet or prasad cloth. A red-cushioned silver throne and a blurred orange-clad figure are in the background. Swamiji (probable) is seated on the throne, an appearance-based label from the long hair, ornate clothing, rudraksha and garland cues.2017-09-10April 26 20182018-04-26A bare-chested man with long dreadlocks, decorated with marigold garlands, flower petals and orange-and-white beaded ornaments, reaches toward a silver ritual vessel on a stand, holding white powder in his hand while a kneeling man in a grey t-shirt leans forward. Behind him a man in a saffron/orange top and rudraksha malas, and a man in white with a sacred vibhuti forehead mark, stand near a tall silver staff. A person in a white and gold shawl wearing rudraksha malas looks on. Red flowers lie on the base.2018-02-13A photograph of a devotee bowing with head lowered while a man in a dark grey suit jacket places his hand on the devotee's head in a blessing gesture. The bowing devotee wears an orange-saffron garment with a gold border and a long garland of yellow and pink flowers around the neck. Behind them a golden deity murti or ornate golden seat is visible, and a second robed figure in saffron, with long matted hair and a beaded rudraksha mala, stands at the upper right beside a white-draped table. A bald head is visible at the bottom edge. The setting suggests a blessing ritual at a satsang.2012-01-09 +1 copies