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A photograph of an outdoor sand-floor ritual at night, lit with warm purple-pink light. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a red border and a green shawl bends over a fire-offering arrangement of stacked wood, pink and purple flower garlands, small brass bowls and kalasha-style pots, offering flowers into it. Beside him a younger man stands bare-chested with a white sacred thread and beaded mala, looking down. A third man at left wears a green shawl over white dhoti. Behind them a large seated audience of women and some men sits on the sand, many with red and orange malas, some in saffron and blue saris, listening attentively. Banners of orange and green flowers decorate the scene.

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Outdoor evening ritual on a sandy ground in front of a seated crowd. Two priests in white dhotis with red borders and green shawls bend over a round dark platform strewn with pink and red flower petals and small red bricks. The priest on the left holds a silver vessel and a flower, while the priest on the right pours or places offerings from a metal bowl. Silver oil lamps and fruit offerings sit in the foreground, and a green cloth lies at the left edge. Behind them, many devotees sit with hands folded in prayer, some in white and red clothing and garlands. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person.2015-12-24December 24 20152015-12-24Photograph of an evening outdoor ritual on a sand-covered stage before a seated audience. A man in a white dhoti with a green sash and a blue-and-red head wrap stoops forward while carrying a silver tray with a lit oil lamp and flower petals. Behind him, a shirtless man with a rudraksha mala and white dhoti walks at the right edge. In the foreground, round platforms hold brass oil lamps, flower petals, coconut halves, fruits and small clay lamps, with a green cloth draped across one platform. The audience sits on the sand, many women in red, orange and blue saris, some with palms pressed together in greeting. No clearly identifiable a person appearance is present in the frame.2015-12-24December 25 20152015-12-25Night outdoor ritual on a sandy beach at a Nithyanandoham event. Two shirtless men in white dhotis with green and red sashes stand at a round raised platter table laden with flower petals, banana-leaf offerings, small brass vessels and a lit oil lamp. A small brick fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground. Behind them a large seated crowd, many in red, orange and white clothing, sits with hands folded in prayer and watches. Purple stage lighting and darkness frame the scene.2015-12-24December 25 20152015-12-25Night outdoor ritual on a sandy beach. A brick-lined fire pit with an open flame sits at lower left, beside round white platforms holding red flower petals, sweets, coconuts and small brick-shaped offerings. A brass oil lamp stands on a platter at right. A shirtless man in a white dhoti with a red border and a green shawl, wearing a blue-and-red turban, bends forward near the platforms. Behind him a large seated crowd of devotees, many women in saffron, red and colourful saris, watches with hands folded in prayer. A shirtless man in a red-bordered dhoti stands at the right edge. The scene appears to be a homa-style ritual with fire and offerings.2015-12-24Night outdoor ritual on sand: a man in a pink turban and white dhoti with a teal shawl stands at left, holding a flaming lamp near a fire, while a bare-chested priest in a pink cloth and white garland holds a lit lamp over a blue-draped offering table. The table holds coconuts, fruits, flowers, a kalasha-style vessel, brass bowls and a red-and-green cloth. Seated devotees in red and white clothing watch behind them.2015-12-25Night outdoor event on sand at a Nithyanandoham session. In the foreground a young man in a white dhoti with green and red border lies prostrate on the sand before a group of priests in white dhotis and bare-chested. A man in a red-orange robe with a flower garland stands near the center, with two women in white and green-bordered saris nearby. A shaved-headed man in glasses and orange shawl stands behind them. Behind is a large seated and standing crowd of devotees with hands in anjali, women in saris and white and orange clothing, under dim stage lighting. A red-cushioned chair and a small screen sit at the edge.2015-12-24December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night-time outdoor fire ritual photographed with a dark background and a crowd of onlookers behind. In the foreground, two men perform a homa/yagna beside a blue-draped table laden with fruit, flowers, a coconut, a kalasha-style brass vessel and a lit oil lamp. The man on the left wears a pink turban with a flower ornament, a teal-and-gold shawl and white dhoti, and holds the lamp over the table. The bare-chested man on the right wears a garland of white flowers, a rudraksha-style mala, a pink-and-gold waist cloth and white dhoti, and stands beside him. Flames rise from a fire pit at the left edge. Behind them, many people in red and other colours watch attentively.2015-12-25