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Photograph of a seated ritual initiation. A man in a deep red turban with gold ornaments and a green feather, wearing a red saffron-toned shawl, long gold necklace and gold armlets, sits on a red cushioned throne before a gold peacock-patterned backrest. He smiles and holds a white paper against the head of a bare-chested devotee in a white dhoti who bends forward. Two attendants in red robes with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings hold white threads over the devotee's head and shoulders. The devotee's back shows white marks. The scene appears to be a Shiva Deeksha initiation.

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September 05 20172017-09-05A seated figure in a maroon-red turban with gold ornaments and a green plume, wearing a maroon silk garment, a long gold necklace of beads and a large gold pendant, and gold armlets, places his hand on the head of a bare-chested man with a white thread and a sandalwood mark on his forehead. The man in the foreground holds a folded white paper. Behind them an ornate gold throne with fan-like carved backrest rests against a red cushion. Other attendants stand at the left edge.2017-09-05A seated man in a rust-red turban with a green feather and gold ornaments, wearing a rust-red wrap, a heavy gold necklace and a gold pendant, sits on a red-cushioned throne with an ornate gold backrest. He holds a white sheet and a white thread. Around him, attendants in orange and red robes hold threads and a white cloth. A bare-chested devotee in a white dhoti leans forward while the throne-seated figure guides a cotton thread toward him. The setting is a decorated hall with bright garlands behind. Swamiji (probable) is seated centrally, appearing through the turban, gold ornaments and ornate red-and-gold clothing; the seated man is the central figure, the attendants and devotee are the other people.2017-09-05 +1 copiesSeptember 05 20172017-09-05September 05 20172017-09-05October 05 20172017-10-05A seated man on a gold-and-red throne wears a maroon turban with a crescent emblem, a garland of white and pink flowers, rudraksha malas and gold ornaments, and holds a white cloth band stretched over a kneeling devotee's head. The devotee, bare-backed and wearing a white dhoti, bows forward with hands on his head while another attendant in white and rudraksha beads supports him from the left. A gold-and-red throne with a carved floral backrest frames the scene, indicating a blessing or initiation ritual. The seated figure matches the presentation cues for a person, though identity is uncertain from appearance.2017-07-08 +1 copiesOutdoor evening initiation scene. A seated figure on a red cushioned throne with an ornate gold-and-red backrest wears a leopard-print headwrap, rust-orange draped robe, heavy gold necklaces, gold bangles and hoop earrings, and touches the forehead of a bare-chested, white-clothed devotee bowing before him, who holds a small card. Behind them a standing man with white vibhuti marks, a beaded rudraksha-style mala and gold chains watches. Other people in red and blue garments stand in the background. Swamiji (probable): the seated figure's long swept-back hair, gold ornaments and ceremonial orange-red robe match the presentation cues, consistent with a Shiva Deeksha initiation.2017-08-21A seated man in a maroon turban with a green feather and jeweled ornaments sits on a red cushioned throne backed by a large gold lotus-petal panel. He wears a heavy gold multi-strand necklace with a gold pendant, gold bangles, and a maroon shawl, and he smiles while holding two white strings. Beside him, a bare-chested man with a white paste mark on his chest and a shaved head receives attention, and at the left edge another person wearing a rudraksha bracelet holds a white paper. Swamiji (probable): the seated man in the maroon turban, gold necklace and ceremonial throne, shown in person.2017-09-05A seated man in long dark dreadlocks and a rust-red dhoti-style wrap sits on an ornate silver-and-red throne with carved lion-head armrests. He wears a heavy gold necklace, a gold waist belt, rudraksha-style bead bracelets on his upper arms and wrists, and a white tilak on his forehead. He extends his right hand in blessing toward a bare-chested man kneeling in front of him, whose head he touches. Behind them a second man in a white dhoti and bead garland holds up a small white paper, and a third person stands at the left edge. Behind the throne stand gold ritual vessels, a kalasha-style pot, and deity murti in a temple setting with orange and green cloth.2017-10-01A photograph of a seated man on an ornate gold-and-red throne, wearing a maroon turban with gold ornaments and a feather, a maroon shawl, layered gold necklaces and gold armbands. He extends his right hand toward the forehead of a kneeling bare-chested devotee with a white cloth tied around his head. Two attendants in white dhotis with sandalwood-style markings and bead necklaces stand behind the kneeling devotee, one with long hair. Red cushions and a gold-patterned backrest frame the throne. The appearance of the seated man is consistent with the Swamiji cues (maroon turban, gold necklaces, ceremonial dress) and the page says he is present, so the person is labelled Swamiji (probable) as a seated teacher blessing a devotee.2017-09-05 +1 copiesA seated figure on a red cushioned throne with an ornate gold lotus-petal backrest presides over a Shiva Deeksha initiation. He wears a dark maroon-brown robe, a patterned leopard-print headband, layered gold-coloured beaded necklaces, and gold armlets. He holds a white cord across the head of a kneeling, bare-backed male initiate in white dhoti, who bows forward. Two priests in white dhotis with horizontal white ash markings on their torsos and rudraksha bracelets assist, one holding a folded paper. Women in cream and white sarees stand at right, one holding a paper slip. Gold shrine decorations and a deity figure appear in the background.2017-08-21