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A night-time photo of a ceremony in front of an illuminated goddess shrine decorated with string lights and a large figure of a goddess with weapons, garlands and a lion mount beside her. In the foreground, several young girls in matching deep maroon silk dresses with gold trim sit in a row on a purple and gold brocade cloth, holding pink lotus flowers. Trays of fruit, bananas, limes, coconuts and a pineapple, along with heaped spices and brass oil lamps, are arranged before them. Behind them, men in white dhotis and shawls stand and sit, some with rudraksha malas. At the right, a man in white sits on a red throne-like chair with gold trim beside a white ritual fire pit with brass vessels. The scene suggests a puja or homa-style offering.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night-time puja at an outdoor temple setting with a deity murti of the goddess draped in garlands, alongside a large Ganesha-style figure. In the foreground a young girl in a maroon and gold dress holds a pink flower while other girls in matching maroon and gold dresses sit on a purple and gold cloth near brass oil lamps (diyas) and plates of fruit including bananas, mangoes and apples. On the right, a man in a red and gold throne-style seat wears a white shawl and garland, and a man in white dhoti sits at a low white altar with a rectangular basin and ritual items. Several priests in white and saffron clothing stand in the background, and a man in a turban and orange robe sits to the right. Flower garlands and kumkum-like powders are visible on the offering table.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesNight ritual photograph of several girls in red and gold silk dresses seated in a row on a purple and gold brocade cloth, holding pink lotus flowers and looking toward a puja setup. Brass oil lamps with lit flames stand beside them, along with plates of fruit, turmeric, kumkum and flower garlands. Behind them, men in white dhotis and shirts stand watching, and a shaved-headed priest in a white and red garment with a gold necklace performs a ritual action at the right. Deity murti decorated with red garlands are visible at the upper left, and string lights glow in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesEvening Chandi Homa ritual at an outdoor ashram setting lit by oil lamps and string lights. Several young girls in red and maroon silk dresses with gold trim sit on the floor in front, one holding a small offering. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha-style garland pours or offers items over a fire-pit altar. Behind, a seated figure in white with an orange-and-white turban and gold necklace sits on an ornate red and gold throne. Other men in white ritual clothes and orange robes stand nearby. A tray of fruit, sweets and flowers lies on the floor, and garlanded figures of deities stand at the left edge.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesFour young girls sit cross-legged on a purple cloth in front of a decorated shrine. They wear matching maroon and gold silk dresses with gold-embroidered borders. The girl on the left holds a pink lotus flower and smiles at the camera; the others hold lotus blooms in their hands. Behind them stands a colourful deity murti with a pink elephant-headed figure garlanded with purple flowers, alongside other painted murtis and a standing goddess figure with a lion mount. Brass oil lamps glow on the right, and fruit, oranges, a watermelon, bananas and flowers are arranged on trays before them.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual in a temporary open pavilion with a deity murti of a goddess in red and gold, flanked by decorated figures and a lion mount, behind a fruit offering. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl with rudraksha-style beads holds up a small offering while a seated attendant in white and yellow holds a silver bowl. Five young girls in maroon silk dresses with gold trim sit on a purple cloth, holding flowers. Brass lamps, a wooden seat, and bunting frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual at a Chandi Homa outdoors under a canopy. Women in maroon and red saris sit in a row on an orange-draped platform, several holding fruit and flowers, with brass plates of apples, bananas, melons and other offerings before them. Behind them a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, adorned with white floral decoration, stands beside a lion vahana. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl with maroon borders, bald-headed, holds a lit lamp or incense near a fire pit with smoke. Strings of lights, saffron pennants and a decorated ornate throne-like seat appear in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesThree young girls sit cross-legged on a purple cloth before a shrine decorated with deity murti. The girl on the left wears a maroon and gold silk dress and holds a pink flower; the centre girl in a maroon dress with gold trim and a white bead necklace holds a pink lotus; the girl on the right in maroon silk with gold border holds a pink flower and a brass oil lamp burns beside her. Behind them stand a pink Ganesha murti and a white-and-pink goddess murti with a yellow-and-red garland, with fruit, flowers and a kalasha-like arrangement on the altar. Strings of fairy lights glow at the upper left.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight puja at an ashram pavilion decorated with string lights and paper garlands. On the left, a large Devi murti with a gold crown and a second deity figure stand behind a floral arch and a shiny brass pot. Five young girls in maroon and dark red silk outfits sit cross-legged on a purple cloth, holding flowers and offerings. A shaven-headed priest in a white dhoti and shawl with red border stands at the centre, making a hand gesture over a brass plate. Another man in white with yellow dhoti kneels at right holding a silver bowl. Fruit, a watermelon and oil lamps are arranged on trays, and a wooden peetha stands in front. Other white-clad people stand in the background.2010-10-16