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Nithyanandapedia
December 12 2016

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A night temple ritual photographed from behind. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and an orange-saffron shawl raises a small gold umbrella over an ornate kalasha-style offering decorated with yellow and red flower garlands and a red rose garland. A brass lamp stands at right, smoke rises at left, and a cameraman films at the far left. Behind the altar, a framed portrait of a bearded man with an orange cloth is visible; no clear face-based identification is made. Hanging decorative streamers and a yellow-trimmed canopy frame the scene.2016-12-07 +1 copiesDecember 07 20162016-12-07A shirtless man in white dhoti with a red-and-gold headcloth bows over an oil lamp with a visible flame, held before a low offering table of marigold garlands, bananas, oranges, coconuts and leaves. Behind him a seated crowd of devotees in white clothes watches; a golden ornate throne stands at right and a brass vessel sits at left. Smoke rises from a fire pit.2016-12-12December 07 20162016-12-07A night-time ritual at an outdoor temple-style pavilion. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with an orange-and-gold shawl waves a ceremonial fan or chamara over a decorated structure garlanded with yellow and white flowers and red roses, topped with a pink element and offerings. Smoke drifts from the left. Behind, another white-clad man in a rudraksha mala and a bearded man stand near the ritual, with cameras on tripods at the edge. Brass oil lamps and a hanging garland border the scene, with striped and yellow decorations overhead. The ritual appears to be a puja or abhishekam; no deity form is clearly visible.2016-12-07December 07 20162016-12-07A night-time outdoor ritual under a canopy, with a white square fire pit or homa altar at centre surrounded by brass plates of flowers, sweets, red powder and grains. Several white-clad priests sit on the floor; the foreground priest has white-painted forehead markings and gold chains. Behind them, illuminated white and decorated deity murti and figures stand on the left. On the right, a seated figure in saffron-orange robes and a beaded necklace sits on an ornate red and gold throne, with a standing attendant in white and orange-red shawl nearby. Strings of lights and tassels decorate the tent.2010-10-15May 02 20172017-05-02July 04 20132013-07-04December 15 20162016-12-15A fire ritual inside a large hall with a red-carpeted floor and marigold garlands strung along the pillars. In the centre, a rectangular fire pit with a burning log and a flame sits on a tiered platform of golden-coloured blocks decorated with flowers. A man in a maroon turban and white dhoti with a gold border stands at the fire holding a ritual vessel; a bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a gold border stands beside him with hands joined. Other priests in white dhotis bend over offering trays and brass vessels. To the left, a purple-and-gold umbrella stands above a seated figure in a saffron garment with rudraksha beads and gold necklaces, surrounded by brass pots and flower offerings. A large heart-shaped floral arrangement and a leafy banana plant decorate the background. The scene reads as a homa or yagna.2018-04-14May 02 20172017-05-02