A prayer is inscribed in sandalwood paste on the forehead of a young Vaishnavite boy who holds a delicate lotus flower in his hand as an offering to the temple. In many religions, the lotus is a symbol of beauty, grace, divine peace and detachment from the earthly shackles of greed, anger, lust, passion, jealousy and ego. Growing out of muddy water to blossom into a lovely flower, the lotus symbolizes the potential in all beings to grow beyond sinful mortal foibles into enlightened beings.

Imphal, Manipur

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