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A photograph of a ritual at a river ghat with stone steps beside flowing water. In the foreground, a shaved-headed priest in orange-red robes and a rudraksha mala sits on a leopard-print cloth, holding a flaming ritual lamp over a small dish. Beside him a younger shaved-headed person in orange and a mala kneels with hands folded in prayer before a table draped in a red and gold brocade cloth, holding silver vessels, red flowers and rose petals, with a white sheet of paper. Behind them, a crowd of devotees in orange, red and white clothing sits on the steps, many with palms joined, while smoke rises at the upper left. The scene suggests a homa fire ritual by the Ganga.

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Outdoor ritual on stone steps at a river ghat, with fast-flowing water to the right. A priest in an orange-red dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha-style bead necklace holds a lit lamp and fire, beside a shiny metal kalasha and pots on a patterned red-and-gold cloth-draped table with rose petals. Seated beside him, a younger man in orange with a bead necklace sits with hands folded. Behind them, a crowd of devotees in orange and white watches from the steps and railing, with a few people in white robes and a flaming fire pit at the upper left. This appears to be a homa or abhishekam ritual at the riverbank.2014-03-24Outdoor riverside ritual on stone steps by the Ganga at Haridwar. In the foreground, a man in orange-saffron robes with a rudraksha mala holds a lit oil lamp, and a shaved-headed young man in orange and yellow cloth with beads sits on a patterned cushion beside a silver kalasha, a silver pot, a tray of red and white flowers and rose petals. Behind them, a crowd of devotees in orange, white and red sits along the steps and bank, some with hands folded, and a stone ghat rises at left with a silver-toned pot and steam. Fast river water flows at right.2014-03-24March 24 20142014-03-24March 24 20142014-03-24March 24 20142014-03-24A photograph of a riverside ritual on Ganga ghat steps at dusk. In the centre, a man with long dark hair wears an orange-red dhoti and bare upper body with ornaments, seated behind a silver puja table draped in a maroon and gold brocade cloth, pouring or offering over a silver kalasha and brass vessels with red flowers and a small flame. A woman in red with rudraksha mala sits in the left foreground with hands folded. Behind them, a crowd of devotees in orange, red and white clothing sits and stands on the steps, many with palms joined, while some stand holding long poles on the upper terrace. Smoke rises from an offering fire at left, and the swift river flows at right.2014-03-24March 24 20142014-03-24A photograph of a riverside ritual on Ganga Ghat steps. In the left foreground a man with long dark hair, rudraksha mala, red-orange saffron wrap and a small brass bell sits on a leopard-print cushion beside a pair of silver pots. Beside him a priest in saffron-orange cloth with a white-and-gold beaded mala tends a white marble tray with a brass bowl, red flower petals and a small lamp, set on a red-and-gold brocade cloth. Behind them, rows of seated devotees in orange, red and white clothing sit on the stone steps, some with palms joined, while others stand on the upper terrace. Flowing river water and a metal railing are visible at right.2014-03-24A photograph of an outdoor river ritual at a Ganga ghat, with fast water in the foreground and a crowd of devotees gathered on the stone steps. A priest in red-orange dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged at left beside three polished silver pots on a stone step. Behind a low wooden platform draped in a red and gold brocade cloth, a shaved-headed priest in orange robes and a rudraksha mala rings a small handbell while a second man in saffron clothing sits nearby. Silver kalasha-style vessels are arranged on the cloth, and small flower petals float at the water's edge. A man in white kurta with a red shawl stands beside a video camera on a tripod at right. Around thirty to forty people, many in white and red clothing, sit on the steps and along the bank watching the ritual. A figure in an orange robe is visible in the upper background.2014-03-24A photograph of a ritual at a riverside ghat, with a smiling man seated in the foreground wearing a red-and-saffron robe, a thick rudraksha mala necklace and a red wrist thread. He holds a flaming oil lamp (arati) over a silver kalasha-style pot, with a small brass deity figure and flower offerings on a tray before him. Behind him on the stone steps, a crowd of devotees sits with hands pressed in prayer, several women in orange and red clothing, and a woman in a patterned shawl. Two tall ceremonial staffs stand at the back, and a plume of smoke rises from the ritual fire. The name of the person in the foreground is not visibly identified in the image itself, so a person is set to unsure.2014-03-24March 24 20142014-03-24Outdoor riverside ritual at a ghat on the Ganga, with a seated priest pair performing a homa-style puja. A bald man in orange-saffron robes and a rudraksha mala sits on a brick platform, ringing a small handbell, beside a woman in red-orange sari and beaded necklaces holding offering items. To the left, a figure with a purple-topped head and draped cloth tends silver kalasha pots on a red and gold embroidered cloth. A cameraman in white with a red shawl films from a tripod at right. Behind them a large crowd of devotees, many in white and red-orange, watches from the steps. A flower offering lies on the wet stone in the foreground.2014-03-24