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Night outdoor photograph of a ceremony under a decorated canopy hung with tall colourful cloth panels in blue, yellow, green and red with bird motifs and floral patterns. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with a tall ornate headdress and a gold necklace sits before a garlanded deity murti draped in blue, with yellow and orange flower garlands. Offerings in brass vessels and plates of fruit and flowers sit in front. Devotees surround the platform: a woman in an orange sari with a red dot holds a plate, another woman in a yellow sari sits with hands folded, and several men in white and orange sit or stand in the crowd. The seated figure appears to be a priest-like presider, with the a person candidate unclear from appearance alone.

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Night photograph of an outdoor ritual beneath a decorated pavilion with tall banners in red, yellow, blue and green patterned with dove motifs. A shaven-headed man in saffron robes and a beaded necklace sits on a raised platform before a garlanded deity murti in a golden crown, with marigold and red flower garlands. Brass vessels, a kalasha-style pot, plates of fruit and offerings sit on the platform. Around him, women in white and cream saris with yellow borders, some with vibhuti marks, stand with palms pressed together in prayer, while a woman in an orange sari stands at the centre. Other devotees in white crowd the foreground.2010-11-19Night-time outdoor ritual photograph in front of a decorated deity murti on a flower-garlanded stage with blue cloth and striped colourful pillars. A man in saffron-orange robes and an ornate silver crown sits on a low white wooden platform performing puja, with brass offering plates, bananas and a kalasha-style vessel before him. Around him, women and men in white clothes, some with saffron or yellow shawls, stand with hands folded in prayer, and a man with a bald head and a rudraksha mala stands at right. The silver-crowned, saffron-robed figure is a priest or sannyasi; identity uncertain from appearance alone.2010-11-19A night-time photograph of a deity murti decorated for worship on a float or ratha with a colourful striped canopy in red, blue, yellow and green, with peacock-style emblems. The murti wears a red and gold dress and a crown, garlanded with yellow and orange marigolds and red flowers, set against a turquoise cloth. In the foreground a man in saffron-orange robes and an ornate silver headdress holds a brass vessel and reaches toward the murti. Fruit, bananas and brass plates sit on an orange cloth before the deity. Two devotees with folded hands kneel nearby, and a man in a white shirt stands at the right edge. A large white feathered fan or chamara is partly visible at the left. The scene appears to be a ritual puja at a procession float.2010-11-19Night outdoor festival scene on a decorated float or cart. A shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged on a raised platform in front of a decorated deity murti garlanded with yellow and orange marigolds, with a blue draped backdrop. Before him are brass vessels, a plate of fruit and bananas, and a large white feathered fan with a gold handle. Another shaved-headed man in white clothing with an orange shawl stands beside him, and a man in a white shirt reaches toward the platform. Around them devotees stand and kneel, including a woman in a pink and white sari, a woman in purple, and women in white saris. Tall colourful festival banners with bird and floral patterns hang overhead. Several people in the background wear white.2010-11-19Night-time outdoor festival scene on a decorated ratha or chariot. A seated monk in orange robes and a patterned conical cap, with a beaded mala around his neck, receives offerings: a young girl in white with a yellow ribbon holds a brass plate of bananas and other fruit toward him, and a silver puja tray with a lit oil lamp, a small bowl and a kalasha sits on the orange cloth before him. Behind him, colourful cloth banners with bird and floral motifs and a blue satin canopy draped with marigold garlands frame the scene. On the left, several devotees stand in white dhotis and orange-red shawls, and women in saris, including yellow and purple, watch in the dark background.2010-11-19A night ritual scene in front of tall decorated banners in green, yellow, red and blue with stylised flowers and bird motifs. On the left, a priest in orange dhoti wears a tall embroidered blue and gold headdress and a gold necklace, and holds a hand over offerings. Silver bowls hold bananas, a coconut, flowers and a small brass lamp. In the centre, a man in a pink-striped shirt sits with a rudraksha-style mala and a hand raised in blessing. Women and girls in saris, some in orange shawls, sit with palms joined in prayer. A blue cloth backdrop and garlands of yellow flowers frame the altar.2010-11-19Night outdoor ritual before a decorated palanquin or cart draped in orange and yellow fabric with gold and red floral garlands around a deity murti in the background. A man in a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala and a white forehead mark sits on the cart, performing a ritual with brass vessels and a plate of offerings. Around him, several people in white ritual clothes with white forehead marks stand and sit, including a woman in a white sari with a bright red bindi and a woman in a white sari seated in front with hands folded. Other devotees are in white and one in purple. Painted banner panels in yellow, blue and red frame the scene. The man in orange has no clear distinctive presentation cues beyond saffron clothing and beads, so his identity is uncertain.2010-11-19A night procession scene at a decorated ratha or chariot with colourful painted cloth panels in blue, yellow, red and green, featuring white dove motifs and floral patterns. A man in an orange-saffron dhoti and orange shawl with a beaded necklace sits on the chariot platform performing a puja, with a lit flame, brass and steel vessels, a tray of bananas and fruit, and garlands around him. In front, a shaven-headed devotee in white and two young men in white with orange shawls stand with hands folded in reverence. Other white-clad people and a man with a conch-like ritual instrument stand behind, under a dark night sky with a street light. Several other people are partly visible at the edges.2010-11-19Night outdoor ritual at a decorated temple-style canopy hung with colourful striped and floral fabric panels. A priest in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl, wearing an ornate gold-and-blue embroidered crown, stands at left offering a plate of fruit and flowers, with a bowl of bananas on the offering table. Behind him, large deity images are garlanded with yellow and orange marigold garlands. Devotees on the right, mostly women and girls in orange, yellow and white saris, sit with palms pressed together in prayer. A man in white kurta stands at right with one arm raised in blessing or gesture toward the offering. Several onlookers in the background and foreground, one partly cropped at the right edge.2010-11-19November 19 20102010-11-19 +1 copiesNight procession at a temple with a decorated palanquin-style shrine (ratha) topped by a colourful striped canopy. A figure in a leopard-print shawl over orange saffron robes, with long dark hair and rudraksha-style beads, stands centre-frame holding a small brass vessel; a second umbrella and metal ceremonial staffs with trident-like finials are carried by others. In the foreground a torch or flame blazes at left. Several men in white dhotis and orange garments and a woman in pink and an orange-clad woman with a white headband accompany the procession, and a drummer plays a large drum beside them. Dark night setting with lamps and foliage.2010-11-19A nighttime festival procession shows a decorated wooden palanquin-style float with red, blue, green and orange embroidered fabric panels bearing dove emblems and floral patterns, with a golden deity murti visible inside the canopied shrine. Several men in white dhotis and saffron cloth stand around the float; one bald man in orange with white ash-smeared body walks at the front holding a tall staff, while another man in white with a rudraksha-style garland helps guide the float. Lit lamps and an umbrella illuminate a second decorated cart in the background. A visible rudraksha-style mala appears on one man. The scene is an outdoor ratha or palanquin procession.2013-03-02