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A seated man in an orange-brown shawl with long dark hair and a beard, wearing a pink and orange flower garland, rests a hand on the head of a kneeling devotee in orange clothing with gold ornaments and red wrist threads. The devotee holds his hands together in prayer namaskar. The man holds a silver ceremonial staff. Behind them, a temple tank with a stone-edged walkway is lit with rows of oil lamps, and yellow marigold garlands hang along the railing. Other orange-clad devotees sit nearby, a gold lion figure sits in the foreground, and a camera on a tripod records the scene.

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December 23 20162016-12-23Night ceremony beside a stone-lined temple tank lit by rows of small oil lamps along its edge. A bearded man with long dark hair and a brown-orange shawl, wearing a pink-and-white flower garland, sits on a raised seat with a golden lion armrest and a trident-topped staff beside him, placing his right hand on the head of a kneeling young man in orange cloth with folded hands and a rudraksha-style necklace. Other saffron-clad devotees stand and kneel along the steps and walkway. A cameraman on a tripod films the scene at right, and a golden deity murti stands on a pedestal at upper right, with marigold garlands draped over the railings.2016-12-23Outdoor temple-tank event beside a rectangular water pool lit with rows of small lamps and strung with marigold garlands. A bearded man in a rust-orange shawl and rudraksha mala stands on a raised red-draped seat, placing his hand on the bald head of a shaven-headed devotee in saffron-orange dhoti with white forehead markings and marigold garland, who kneels with hands folded in namaste. A golden lion figure sits on the platform. Around them, saffron-clad men and women sit on stone steps, and several attendants in orange with white body markings hold tall brass ceremonial staffs with ornate finials. Stands of spectators fill the background, and a white device sits at lower right.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23A bearded man in a rust-brown robe and a pink-and-purple floral garland sits on an ornate silver-and-gold throne with a golden lion-head armrest, holding a silver staff topped with a trident-like finial and touching the forehead of a younger man. The younger man, bare-chested with long dreadlocked hair, a white sacred thread over the shoulder, gold necklaces, an armlet and an orange-and-red dhoti, stands with palms pressed together in namaskar. Behind them, seated attendees in orange robes and a large crowd on tiered white steps and beside a water tank watch the blessing. a person: the seated bearded man in rust-brown robe, rudraksha-style mala and ceremonial garland on the throne, giving the blessing.2016-12-23A seated man in an orange-brown saffron shawl and a pink-and-gold beaded garland blesses a shaven-headed devotee kneeling in prayer with palms joined. The blessing man has long dark hair and a beard, and rests one hand on the kneeling devotee's head while holding a long ceremonial staff topped with a silver finial. The kneeling devotee wears white tripundra markings, a gold necklace and a yellow dhoti. Behind them, many saffron-clad sannyasis and devotees sit in rows along stone steps beside a dark green water tank at night, with bright lamps reflected on the water. Golden ornaments, a lion-shaped brass figure and a silver-framed pedestal stand in the foreground.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23Night-time ritual at a stepped temple tank lit by strings of small lamps and garlanded with orange and yellow marigold chains along the walkway. In the foreground, a long-haired man in an orange-brown shawl with a pink flower garland sits beside golden ceremonial staffs and a golden lion figure, reaching toward a shaved-headed man in white dhoti and bare chest, who is bowing and holding offerings with orange flowers. Several women in orange and yellow saris and a few men in white stand and sit along the steps, and women in gold and green saris stand near the railing. Swamiji (probable): the long-haired man in the orange-brown shawl with a pink garland fits the appearance cues, and he is presiding over the ritual as the one giving offerings. The bowing man in white is a devotee receiving blessing.2016-12-23Outdoor evening ceremony beside a large water tank with steps. A bearded man with long dark hair wearing an orange-brown shawl and a pink-and-gold beaded garland sits on an ornate silver throne with a golden lion figure at its base, touching the forehead of a bald devotee with his right hand. The devotee, in saffron cloth and rudraksha beads, has white horizontal sacred markings on the forehead and arms, hands joined in anjali. Behind them, seated rows of saffron-robed devotees and a large crowd fill tiered stands, with golden ceremonial staffs and a trident visible at left. Swamiji (probable) is the seated man on the throne, identified by long hair, saffron-brown shawl, ornate garland and throne presence.2016-12-23Night-time outdoor ceremony beside a dark water tank lit by string lights, with rows of tiered seating filled with devotees. A seated man with long dreadlocks and a beard wears a rust-orange robe and a pink-and-white flower garland, and holds a ceremonial silver staff with a golden tip while smiling. Beside him on a silver-framed throne sits a golden lion figure. A shaved-headed young man in a saffron cloth and gold necklace sits on the steps with palms pressed together in greeting, his forehead and arms marked with white vibhuti stripes. Many devotees in orange and saffron clothes sit in rows, some with hands folded, and a brass kalasha-style vessel and water bottles are visible.2016-12-23December 23 20162016-12-23