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A photograph of a ritual initiation at an ashram stage with warm lamplight and a lit lamp stand behind. In the foreground a man in a white dhoti with gold borders, a gold-bordered shawl, a rudraksha mala and white vibhuti on his forehead stands among a crowd of seated, mostly bare-chested devotees with heads bowed, some holding white threads. Behind him another man in white with gold trim holds white cloth. A green-and-orange draped dais and a large monitor are visible. Many devotees are seated on the floor, with some older men in glasses and light shirts. The setting suggests a sacred thread or initiation rite.

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A photograph of a shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti with gold borders and a white upper cloth, standing among a crowd of seated men who are mostly bare-chested and reaching forward with raised hands to receive threaded cords. The priest holds white cords and beads in his hands, distributing them. A rudraksha-style bead necklace and a white tilak mark are visible. Behind him stands a flat-screen monitor, with a lit wooden frame of small lamps and a golden yellow and green stage draped in the background. Another white-clad attendant stands at the left edge.2017-03-11A large seated crowd in white and cream clothing fills an open hall at a Tamil ritual gathering. In the centre stands an older man with short grey hair, wearing a white sleeveless top with yellow trim and white dhoti, a dark beaded rudraksha-style necklace, and holding a bundle of white threads. Many women in white and yellow saris sit close together, some with hands raised, and a shirtless man in a white dhoti stands at the right edge. The hall walls are red-orange with palm fronds visible at the top. No a person identity can be confirmed from appearance, so the central man is described by role only.2017-03-11 +1 copiesMarch 11 20172017-03-11A dense crowd of mostly bare-chested male devotees with white ash marks on their foreheads and bodies fills the frame, many with arms outstretched. In the foreground a man in white dhoti with orange-bordered cloth and a rudraksha-style beaded necklace hands a white cord or thread to a bare-chested man reaching toward him. Other men in white dhotis and shirts stand among the crowd, and white-clad women are visible in the background. Yellow and red striped drapery and white ceiling lights frame the scene.2017-03-11Photo 11712206December 02 20162016-12-02Night ritual scene at an outdoor temple-style ceremony. A bare-chested man with grey hair and a beard, wearing a white dhoti with a gold-bordered cloth and a white shawl, handles white sacred threads while a younger man in white dhoti assists him. Behind them, a woman in an orange-brown sari with long plaited hair holds a small object. Brass and gold kalashas decorated with yellow marigold garlands stand on a red-draped altar, and a banana plant and a dark deity murti appear in the background.2016-12-02January 02 20162016-01-02A large crowd of mostly bare-chested devotees sits on the floor of a temple hall during an initiation-style ritual. In the foreground, a man in a white dhoti with a brown waist cord leans forward and reaches toward a seated devotee, handing or tying a white cord. Behind them a woman in an orange-red sari with a rudraksha mala stands near a red-draped table with yellow flowers. The background shows a golden shrine with a large deity murti and gold-framed niches, and a few people in white and a person in a purple top. Many devotees wear orange or saffron cloths and vibhuti marks on their foreheads. No individual is clearly identifiable as a person from appearance.2016-12-02May 10 20172017-05-10A large indoor hall filled with many seated and standing people, mostly men in white dhotis and bare upper bodies with rudraksha malas, sitting on the floor in a ritual gathering. In the foreground a smiling man with long swept-back hair wears a white dhoti with gold border, a dark rudraksha mala and bracelets, standing with his hands near his waist. Beside him a bare-chested man with long hair and a red-brown rudraksha mala looks down at a mobile phone. Framed portraits and wall panels decorate the pink walls, and a glowing red-and-white display sits at the left edge. Ceiling lights and ceiling fans are visible.2017-07-09A photograph of a ritual scene. An elderly bare-chested man in white dhoti with a yellow border bows forward, hands on his head, while a long white cord is looped around his neck by a seated man in a deep maroon robe with a large gold pendant and gold beaded necklaces, red beaded bangles on his wrist, and long dark hair with a white forehead marking. Behind them a woman in a pink and white sari with gold jewellery and white body markings holds the cord and the man's shoulder. Orange and pink cloth hangs in the background, and a silver-framed seat is visible on the right. Several people with bead bracelets assist at the edges of the frame. A small packet of offering material is held near the bottom.2017-10-01