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Night photograph of a temple shrine during a homa or fire ritual. A man with a shaved head, wearing saffron-orange robes and a beaded necklace, sits cross-legged on a carved wooden seat and holds up a small vessel toward the sacred fire pit at centre-front. Behind him are two decorated deity murtis draped in garlands of marigolds in yellow, orange and green, with brass oil lamps and a metal kalasha on the floor. A large bronze-coloured animal figure with flower garlands sits on a platform at right. Red-painted walls and a white-and-red stepped border frame the scene, with a silver bowl and a small ritual tray in the foreground.

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November 09 20102010-11-09 +1 copiesNovember 09 20102010-11-09 +1 copiesA shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes sits on an ornate carved wooden seat beside a square homa fire pit, holding a lit oil lamp and a small brass vessel in his hands. A gold-coloured sacred bull or vahana statue, draped in flower garlands, stands to the right near brass oil lamps and kalasha vessels. Behind them, a deity murti on a golden platform is decorated with marigold garlands in orange, yellow and white, and a red cloth backdrop with decorative fringe hangs on the wall. a person candidate with a gold necklace and orange clothing performs the puja at the fire pit. The setting is a temple-like shrine lit at night.2010-11-09A photograph inside a temple at night showing a man seated on an ornate wooden seat, dressed in saffron-orange robes with a beaded necklace, shaved head, holding a lit lamp or camphor flame over a metal vessel as part of a ritual. Behind him, a deity murti is decorated with garlands of marigolds and green leaves, and a second richly adorned deity with a golden crown and garlands stands on the right beside a gold bull-shaped vahana. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, flower offerings and a square stone fire pit with ash sit in the foreground, and a wall sign in a non-Latin script hangs above. The atmosphere is that of an evening puja or homa.2010-11-09A priest in saffron-orange robes sits on a carved wooden seat before a square homa fire pit, raising a small brass vessel and lamp in his right hand while his left hand rests near a bowl of offerings. He wears a beaded necklace and a bracelet, and has a shaved head. Behind him stands a deity murti draped in marigold garlands, and to the right a golden vahana-style figure with ornate garland drapery decorates the shrine. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel and flower offerings surround the ritual space in an evening temple setting.2010-11-09A seated man in orange robes and a gold chain sits on a carved wooden seat before a square fire pit (homa kunda) with a white-and-grey stone border. He holds a ladle over the pit while a silver bowl of offerings sits nearby. Behind him, a deity murti is garlanded with marigold and flower garlands, and a gold-and-jewelled ornament with a tall golden figure is draped in colourful flower garlands. Brass oil lamps (deepa) and a lit candle stand on the floor, with silver plates and vessels scattered in the foreground. The setting is night, with a sacred fire ritual underway.2010-11-09A shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes sits cross-legged on an ornately carved wooden seat, performing a homa-style ritual at night. He wears a gold-toned beaded necklace and a bracelet, and extends his right hand upward toward a tall brass ladle-like ritual implement. Before him is a stone fire pit with a white bowl of offerings and a small brass vessel nearby. Behind him a golden shrine with a deity murti is garlanded with multicoloured flower garlands. To the right stand tall brass oil lamps, and a dark figure with a deity form stands in the background. A microphone stands near him. The setting has red-and-white striped steps and orange marigolds on the left.2010-11-09A photograph of a shaven-headed man in orange saffron robes sitting cross-legged on a carved wooden seat during an evening homa at a temple-like shrine. He holds a small metal ladle or arati-type vessel over a lit flame in a fire pit lined with dark stone. Nearby stand a tall brass oil lamp, a brass lamp stand with a flame, a silver bowl of offerings, and a silver plate. Behind him, a deity murti stands in a gilded frame draped with colourful garlands, and a red and white striped wall runs across the background.2010-11-09A shaven-headed priest in saffron-orange robes sits on a carved wooden seat in a temple hall, his back to the camera, and reaches toward a golden ritual vessel. Behind him a golden kalasha-shaped deity figure stands under a canopy garlanded with red, yellow and green flower chains. Brass oil lamps with lit flames stand on the floor, and a silver bowl and offering dishes sit on a stone platform in the foreground. A black stone deity murti stands at the right against a red wall. The scene suggests a puja or abhishekam in progress.2010-11-09A photograph of a seated priest in saffron-orange robes, shaved head and bare-armed, raising a lit oil lamp toward a gold-clad deity murti in a temple shrine. The murti is draped with garlands of yellow, red, green and white flowers, and small brass oil lamps and a brass bowl sit on the stone platform. Behind the figure, another gold-garlanded deity and a dark figurine stand against red-orange walls, with a lamp stand on the right. The priest's face is turned away, and the scene is lit warmly in the evening, consistent with aarti. Only the priest is a physical person; the other figures are statues.2010-11-09A seated man in saffron-orange robes performs a fire ritual at a shrine, holding a lamp or ladle over a small flame set in a stone fire pit. He wears gold necklaces and bangles and has a shaved head. Behind him stands a golden ornate throne-like seat with a garland draped over it, and a colourful flower garland hangs at right. Brass oil lamps stand on the floor, a brass kalasha-style finial and a metal bowl with offerings sit nearby, and a dark figure statue of a deity stands in a niche at the right. A signboard at top left reads a temple name. Brass bowls and trays of offerings lie on the floor at left. The setting is a temple hall at night, consistent with a homa or puja.2010-11-09A shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes sits cross-legged on a carved wooden seat with a gold-and-red backrest, beside a fire pit lined with black stone. He holds a ladle or spoon over the pit while making an offering, with a ceremonial gold necklace and a bracelet visible. Behind him stand a tall brass oil lamp, a gold-topped staff, a brass aarti lamp, a silver bowl of white offerings, and a brass kalasha-style vessel. The background shows marigold garlands, a red-and-white striped platform and a deity murti. Appearance-based label: a person, seated in a homa-style fire ritual.2010-11-09