Mahamastakabhisheka: The bathing of a God

The last Mahamastakabhisheka venerating Gomateshwara Bahubali took place on December 19, 1993. Little about the ceremony has changed, except for the finale in recent years that has included an enormous shower of flowers from a helicopter.

Image: Jain devotees reach for flowers as they are poured over Gomateshwara.

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Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images