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Night ritual on stone steps at a sacred pond, with a large seated crowd lit by flickering oil lamps and lanterns. In the foreground a bearded standing man in a leopard-print wrap and maroon dhoti holds his palms together in namaskar, with a rudraksha-style bead garland around his neck and a shaved-up hairstyle. Several dark Shiva lingas sit on the steps among the lamps. Behind them spectators in white, saffron, teal and purple clothing sit in rows, many with hands folded. String lights, red flags and white railings line the staircase under floodlights.

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December 08 20162016-12-08Night photograph of a Rudrabhishekam ritual on tiered stone steps lit by floodlights and strings of small coloured lights. A large crowd sits on the steps holding small oil lamps and flowers, many wearing white, saffron and teal clothing. Rows of black Shiva lingams stand on the steps in the foreground. In the centre, a bare-chested man in a leopard-print wrap and rudraksha-style garland stands with palms joined in prayer, facing the gathering. Red pennants and tall lamp posts frame the scene.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08Night outdoor ritual at a tiered stone ghat-style stepped platform lined with black Shiva lingas on pedestals. A large crowd of devotees, many in white, cream and pastel clothing, sits on the steps, some with hands folded in prayer. In the foreground a figure in a rust-brown wrap and leopard-print skirt, with a dark turban and a strand of marigold garlands, stands with arms raised facing the audience. Strings of colourful lights, red flags and bright floodlights frame the scene, and a camera rig is visible at left.2016-12-08Night photo of a large outdoor ritual on tiered stone steps lined with black Shiva lingas and brass-tipped sacred stones. A man in the foreground stands facing the crowd with raised arms and hands in a mudra, wearing a leopard-print wrap, maroon dhoti and a long wooden rudraksha-style mala. Around him, many seated devotees in white, green, pink and purple clothing sit on the steps, some with hands joined in prayer. Bright floodlights, strings of lights and red flags frame the scene.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08Night photo of a ghat-style stepped platform lit by bright floodlights and strings of coloured fairy lights, with red flags on poles. Many people, mostly seated in rows on the steps, are holding small oil lamps or hands in anjali. Lit oil lamps line the steps in front. In the foreground a bare-chested man with a saffron-coloured wrap and a cream-coloured cloth around his waist, a long rudraksha-style bead necklace, and a head covering walks down the steps, facing away from the camera. Loudspeakers and a camera on the left are visible. The page indicates a person was present, but the foreground figure's appearance is not clearly distinctive enough to confirm that, so the candidate is uncertain.2016-12-08Night-time outdoor ritual at a stepped tank-side arena lit by floodlights and strings of coloured bulbs. In the foreground a bare-chested man in a leopard-print wrap and maroon dhoti stands with palms joined in namaskar, a rudraksha-style mala around his neck, his head covered with a red cloth. Behind him, dozens of seated devotees in white, cream and bright saris and kurtas hold small oil lamps and lit wicks. Rows of black stone Shiva lingas with brass fittings and small flames stand along the steps. Red flags and a loudspeaker are visible at the edges.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08Night photo of a large outdoor ritual on stone tiered steps lit by floodlights and strings of coloured lights. A saffron-clad sannyasi with a maroon head wrap and a long beaded mala stands in the foreground, palms pressed together in namaste, wearing a patterned leopard-print wrap over a dark skirt. Behind him rows of seated devotees, many in white, orange and pink, hold their hands in anjali. Black Shiva lingams with small oil lamps are arranged on the steps, and a drum sits at the left edge. Speakers and red flags are visible at the right. Whether the foreground sannyasi is a person cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.2016-12-08