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A photograph of a lamp-lighting ceremony on a stage with a red and maroon draped backdrop and a dark banner. A tall brass lamp (deepam) with a bird-shaped top is wrapped in white jasmine garlands and red flowers, standing on a brass tray heaped with yellow and white petals, with purple, orange and red flower heaps around it. Three older men in white shirts and white dhotis or trousers are present: one in grey trousers and glasses holds his hands open toward the lamp, another in white with glasses rings a small handbell and tends the lamp, and a third stands in white at the edge. A younger man in white dhoti with an orange shawl and a red tilak stands behind the lamp, looking down. Potted orange and yellow flowers sit behind him. Strictly, the deepam lamp is an oil lamp used in a lamp-lighting ritual, not a homa.

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A photograph of a lamp-lighting ceremony at an outdoor stage. A young man in white kurta and dhoti with an orange shawl and a red tilak on his forehead lights a tall brass oil lamp (deepam) decorated with white jasmine garlands, red roses and a green leaf, set in a brass tray scattered with yellow and white petals. An elderly woman in a teal sari and an older man in white shirt and trousers stand beside him, the woman holding a lit taper toward the lamp while the man looks on. Behind them an older man in white stands near a potted floral arrangement, and a red-and-white backdrop with a partial Tamil-script banner fills the background. Four people are visible.2010-02-16A photo of a lamp-lighting ceremony at an outdoor stage under a red canopy. A young man in white dhoti and shirt with an orange-red shawl over his shoulder holds a tall brass oil lamp (deepa) wreathed in white jasmine garlands with red flowers and a green leaf sprig, lighting it. Beside him an older man in a white short-sleeved shirt and white trousers, wearing glasses and a wristwatch, extends a lit taper toward the lamp. Petals in yellow, orange, white and red are scattered on the grey floor around the brass plate. Behind them stand other men in white and a woman in a blue-green patterned sari; a red-and-gold backdrop shows a large portrait of a man in a red turban and a dark stage banner with Tamil lettering. A cooler unit and a wooden podium are at left.2010-02-16February 16 20102010-02-16A photograph of a lamp-lighting ceremony under a red canopy on a stage. A man in an orange turban, orange robes and a rudraksha mala stands at left, hands extended toward a tall brass lamp stand. A woman in a red and green striped sari stands beside him, and an older man in white shirt and white trousers with glasses holds a small brass bell or lamp at right. Garlands of red and white flowers drape the lamp stand, which sits on a flower-decked brass tray. Behind them is a large portrait of a man's face and a banner with Tamil lettering. Two other people in orange partly appear at right edge.2010-02-17A stage event with a dark backdrop bearing large Tamil letters and a red flower motif. In the centre, a young man in white dhoti and an orange-saffron shawl, with a red flower in his hair, stands beside a brass oil lamp (aarti lamp) wrapped with white jasmine garlands and red roses. An older man in a white shirt and white trousers, wearing glasses and a wristwatch, holds his palms together in namaste, while an older woman in a blue-green sari and glasses reaches toward the lamp. Another man in white stands behind them. A beige air cooler and yellow-and-white garlands decorate the stage.2010-02-16Outdoor stage event at dusk under a white canopy with a red carpet. A young man in saffron robes and an orange turban stands at left, hands folded. Beside him a long-haired man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala lights a large brass oil lamp (kuthuvilakku) with a flame, while an older man in white dhoti and shirt and an elderly man in cream shawl and white dhoti reach toward the lamp. A young man in white dhoti with a yellow shawl and rudraksha mala watches at right, and another saffron-robed figure stands behind. Pink, orange and white flowers sit in the foreground by a wooden podium, and a backdrop with a gold logo and a 'Sold' style banner is behind them. Several people are visible, and the scene reads as an inaugural lamp-lighting ceremony.2010-01-22January 20 20102010-01-20Outdoor stage event under a pinkish-grey tent canopy with a red carpet. A man in a white shirt and white dhoti stands on the left, reaching toward a tall brass multi-tiered lamp stand wrapped in white jasmine garlands with pink flowers. On the right, a man in orange-saffron robes with long swept-back hair holds the lamp's base area with his hands, performing a lamp-lighting ritual. Behind them a man in a white shirt and light trousers stands barefoot on the red carpet. A red banner with partial Tamil lettering and orange drapes are visible in the background, along with a small blue-and-white emblem on the canopy.2010-02-18A photo of a lamp-lighting ceremony on a red-carpeted stage under a white canopy decorated with orange and pink marigold garlands and a pink bow. A tall brass lamp stands at right, flame lit. A man in a white shirt and white dhoti lights the lamp's wick, while an elderly man in white dhoti, shawl and glasses holds the lamp's stem beside him. At left, a saffron-robed figure in an orange turban and orange wrap stands with hands clasped, wearing a rudraksha mala, facing the lamp. Behind them, another person in orange and an attendant in white are partly visible. Flowers in orange, pink and purple sit at the lower edge. A dark backdrop with a small bird logo stands behind the stage.2010-01-22Outdoor evening event under a white canopy with a red carpet. A man in an orange turban and orange robe stands at left, another in orange robes beside him. A man in white shirt and white dhoti and an elderly man in white shawl and dhoti stand at a tall brass oil lamp (vilakku) with a bird-topped stem, lighting it, while a younger man in white with a yellow shawl and rudraksha-style beads holds the lamp base. Flower arrangements of orange, pink and yellow blooms sit at the base. Behind is a dark backdrop with a large gold letter and a portrait photo, and a wooden podium at right.2010-01-22A photograph of a stage welcome on a bright outdoor event platform. A man in an orange turban, orange sleeveless top and orange dhoti, with a long beard, stands at centre-left with his hands pressed together and extends them toward an older man in a white shirt and white dhoti draped with a red-and-gold shawl. The older man wears a long garland of red and white flowers and stands before a brass oil lamp, with a brass lamp pedestal in front. Behind them stand a younger man in white with an orange sash and a standing woman in a red blouse and green-striped saree with gold jewellery, hands folded. At right, a man in a white shirt, grey trousers, belt and wristwatch stands with folded hands. Garlands of yellow and orange flowers hang on a white backdrop, and red cloth covers part of the left side.2010-02-17A photograph of a group on a stage lighting a tall brass oil lamp, with garlands of white and pink flowers wrapped around its stem. A man in an orange-saffron robe and a wrap, with a dark rudraksha mala around his neck, stands at the centre; the figure has long dark hair, a distinctive appearance cue, and is described as Swamiji (probable), appearing in person. Beside him a man in a striped white shirt and watch holds the lamp's tray, and a man in white kurta with a yellow shawl reaches toward the lamp. Other men in white kurtas and white shirts stand around the lamp, several with glasses and moustaches. Behind them a backdrop shows a stylised flame and a hand emblem, and a bright lamp-lit banner area fills the upper right.2010-09-20