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A photograph of a temple ritual before a pair of large gold-and-red decorated deity murtis seated on a throne, adorned with flower garlands in red, yellow and purple and gold necklaces. A devotee in an orange saffron robe with long dark wavy hair pours grains or offerings from a silver plate onto a tall black linga-shaped stone at the centre, with a stream of granules falling onto the peetha. To the left, two more people in saffron robes with rudraksha malas stand holding a silver tray and a small vessel. A brass oil lamp stands on the right and a small white marble seated figure sits at the base. A devotee dressed in orange clothing with rudraksha malas attends the abhishekam, a ritual anointing of the linga.

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A photograph inside a temple shrine during a linga abhishekam. A figure in a long flowing orange robe with long dark hair stands at center, holding a silver plate and pouring offerings over a black linga stone on a dark pedestal. Behind, two gold-faced deity murtis with crowns and red garments are decorated with garlands of yellow, orange, red and purple flowers. In the left foreground, two more people in orange robes and rudraksha malas stand by, one holding a small vessel. A white marble statue of a seated figure and a brass oil lamp stand at the right. The walls are carved grey stone.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple shrine during abhishekam. Two gilded deity murtis, seated and adorned with red and yellow flower garlands, crowns and jewelled necklaces, are framed by a large arch of marigolds and purple blossoms. In front, a woman in an orange sari pours liquid from a silver vessel over a tall yellow-coated linga, while four people in saffron robes stand beside her, one holding a small metal pot and another with rudraksha malas. A white marble seated figure sits on the pedestal, with brass lamps and a small kalasha nearby. Five people are visible in total, all of them partially shown at the frame edges.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a Shiva shrine. A long-haired figure in orange robes stands at center, pouring from a brass vessel over a dark linga, with both hands raised. Behind them, a deity murti pair in gold and red is adorned with garlands of yellow, orange and purple flowers and a red and gold crown. Two orange-robed attendants with rudraksha malas stand at left, one holding a silver tray. A white marble seated figure with a raised hand sits before the linga, and a brass lamp stands at right. Marigold petals are scattered on the dark platform.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a shrine decorated with dense garlands of yellow, orange, red and purple flowers. Two large golden deity murti sit side by side on a red-draped platform, one wearing a red and gold crown and layered gold necklaces. A long-haired figure in saffron-orange robes stands at center, pouring liquid from a silver vessel over a dark stone linga on the platform. Beside them, a second saffron-robed attendant holds a silver pot, and a third person in orange with grey hair stands at the left edge. Tall brass oil lamps flank the scene, and a small white marble seated figure sits in front of the linga. The person pouring has long dark curly hair and is in a sleeveless saffron garment. Visible people: three, plus a partially visible hand at the far left.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a shrine decorated with dense garlands of red, yellow, orange and purple flowers. Two golden deity murtis sit on a red-draped throne behind a black linga, and a woman in orange robes pours a liquid from a silver vessel over the linga. Around her, several people in saffron-orange robes stand holding brass oil lamps and a small offering vessel. A white marble figure of a seated person sits at the base in front of the linga, with brass lamps flanking the shrine and pink flowers in the upper right corner.2010-02-12Photo of a temple abhishekam at a Shiva shrine decorated with dense garlands of yellow, white, red and purple flowers. A person in a flowing orange robe with long dark hair pours or anoints a large golden-yellow linga with one hand. Behind it stand gilded deity murtis with crowns and ornate jewelry, one draped in red silk. Two men in orange robes stand at left, one holding a metal tray. A small white marble seated figure sits at the base of the linga platform, and a brass lamp stand is at right. The scene is lit warmly at night.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a shrine decorated with marigold and multicoloured flower garlands. Two gilded deity murtis sit on a red-draped platform, one wearing a crown and the other a red-and-gold tiered headdress, with a shiva linga on a black stone base in front. A woman in a long orange sari stands at left, holding a ritual implement toward the murtis. Two people in orange and saffron robes sit at lower left with their hands folded in anjali. Brass oil lamps stand on either side, and a small white marble seated figure with folded hands sits at the base. The setting is a stone temple wall with carved pillars and red flowers at upper right.2010-02-12A photograph of an abhishekam at a temple shrine. A woman with long dark hair in an orange-saffron sari stands at center, pouring liquid from a brass pot over a black stone linga on a dark pedestal. Behind her, two gold-faced deity murtis are draped in red-orange silk and bright garlands of yellow, orange, red and purple flowers, with a gold crown on the left figure. To the left, a young woman in orange clothing wears a beaded necklace, and an older man in orange stands beside her. A bald man in orange sits at the lower left. A white marble sculpture of a seated figure and a tall brass oil lamp stand in the foreground.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night before a flower-decorated golden deity pair seated on a dais. A woman in orange robes with long dark curly hair pours a yellow liquid from a silver vessel over the deity's base, which is draped in yellow and flows down a black pedestal. Behind her, two young men in orange robes and rudraksha malas stand, one holding a silver pot. A bearded man in orange stands at the far left edge. The golden deities wear red and gold garments, jewelled necklaces and crowns, framed by garlands of yellow, red and purple flowers. A small white marble seated figure with folded hands sits at the base, and a brass lamp stands at the right. The scene shows ritual bathing of the murti.2010-02-12A woman in an orange sari-style garment stands before a shrine, holding a lit oil lamp over a dark stone linga on a black pedestal. Behind her, a pair of gold-clad deity murti stand adorned with red, yellow and purple flower garlands and jewelled necklaces; one wears a red-and-gold crown. Two brass standing lamps flank the shrine, and a white marble statue of a seated figure with hands in anjali sits below. On the left, a man in orange robes sits with palms pressed together, and an orange-robed figure stands at the far left edge. Scattered flower petals and rice cover the pedestal.2010-02-12A photograph inside a temple shrine showing a golden murti of a deity pair seated in front of a black Shiva linga on a dark pedestal, draped in red and gold silk and decorated with yellow, orange and purple flower garlands. A woman with long dark curly hair in a sleeveless orange robe holds a lit oil lamp toward the deities. At left, a man in orange robes stands with hands folded in prayer, and a second man in orange sits at lower left with palms joined. Tall brass oil lamps stand at each side, a white marble seated figure sits on the altar below, and a pile of flower petals or grains lies on the altar in front.2010-02-12A photograph of a temple abhishekam at a shrine decorated with marigold and multicolored flower garlands. Two gilded deity murtis of a seated male and female pair wear red and gold silk and jeweled necklaces. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes pours water from a brass vessel over a linga at the base, while other saffron-clad priests stand beside him holding brass pots and a lit lamp. A small white marble seated figure sits in the foreground, and a tall brass oil lamp stands at right. A man in saffron robes at the left edge holds a brass vessel. Abhishekam is the visible ritual; the pouring man's appearance is not sufficiently distinctive to identify him.2010-02-12