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A night puja at a decorated shrine with a large deity murti of a goddess seated on a lion, framed by white floral arches and a garland-draped figure. A fire pit with burning flame sits on white tiered steps in front. Several priests in white dhotis, one in a yellow cloth, perform the ritual; one standing priest in white holds a vessel toward the fire. Young girls in red and maroon dress sit near the shrine. At right, a seated elderly man in a saffron-orange robe with white-striped forehead and arm markings sits with hands joined, beside a person in a white turban and another in white. Hanging mango leaves, lanterns and brass oil lamps decorate the scene.

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A photograph of a puja at a decorated shrine. A large deity murti of a goddess with many arms, holding weapons, dominates the center, framed by a white ornate arch and flanked by smaller murtis and a Ganesha figure. Two priests in white dhotis, one bare-chested, stand and kneel at a white offering platform holding a brass vessel, while a third priest sits beside them. Several young girls in red and maroon dresses sit near the shrine. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha, and a tiered brass lamp sit on the platform, with mango leaves strung across the top and a fringed canopy above. On the right, a man in orange robes and white hair sits with hands folded in namaskar, and a white-clad attendant stands nearby.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16A night puja at a temple-like hall decorated with orange cloth, leaf garlands, paper lanterns and fringed umbrellas. At centre stands a large white-framed goddess murti with many arms, a lion mount beneath her. In front, a white altar holds a small fire and oil lamps. A priest in white dhoti with a gold necklace kneels and tends the fire while another priest in white stands behind him. A seated elderly man in saffron-orange robes with a turban and white beard sits in a cushioned chair at right, hands folded in reverence, next to an attendant in orange. Several young girls in red and gold dresses sit near the altar and small children in white shirts and dark clothing watch from the foreground. Visible printed banner text on the right wall.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a Devi puja at an outdoor stage. A large goddess murti with many arms, dark flowing hair and a lion mount stands at the centre, framed by white floral arches, garlands and a canopy of green leaves. Several smaller murtis flank her. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti holds a brass vessel and raises one arm toward the altar. Another white-clad priest kneels at the platform, and a seated man in orange robes with white markings sits to the right, his palms together. Young girls in red and maroon clothes sit among the worshippers, and oil lamps and brass vessels stand on the white platform steps, with flower petals scattered across the cloth.2010-10-16A photo of a night-time puja before a large decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, backed by a silver-bordered halo and flanked by smaller murtis and ornamental canopies. Several priests in white dhotis and shawls perform rituals on a raised white platform: one kneels with a brass vessel and lamp, another in white stands holding offerings, and a third sits at the front. Young girls in red and maroon dresses sit on the floor, and leafy green garlands hang across the ceiling. An older man in saffron and white sits at the right edge, possibly a person given the shaved head and saffron wrap, but appearance is uncertain.2010-10-16A night-time photograph of a Navaratri puja at a temple-like stage decorated with green leaf garlands and string lights. A large white-and-silver decorated deity murti of the goddess stands at the back, with a lion mount and a row of smaller decorated figures. In front, a bald priest in a white dhoti and white shawl raises his right arm and holds a brass vessel, while another white-clad attendant in a yellow-trimmed dhoti kneels nearby. A bare-chested man with white-painted markings on his torso sits on the right beside a white armchair, and young girls in red and gold clothes stand in the background. Brass lamps, a bowl and flower petals rest on the white steps of the altar, with a sheet-draped platform in the foreground.2010-10-16Night puja before a large white-and-silver decorated deity murti of a multi-armed goddess standing on a lion, holding weapons, with a curved white arch and fringed canopy above. Two priests in white dhotis stand and sit before a low platform with brass vessels, a kalasha and lit oil lamps. A priest in bare-chested white pours from a vessel at left while a seated priest in white attends at right. Several young girls in red-and-maroon dress sit near the altar, and an adult in white and an orange-clad figure sit at the right edge. Flower garlands and banana-leaf toran decorate the scene; smaller deity murtis flank the main figure.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual before a large decorated deity murti of Durga, a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, framed by a white floral arch and silver-and-pink decorations. Several priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies stand and kneel on a white-and-orange platform, one holding a brass vessel and another raising a hand; a seated priest with ash-marked body makes offerings. Women in red and maroon saris sit in rows behind, oil lamps burn on the altar, and string lights and leafy garlands hang overhead. A man in a saffron-orange dhoti and white turban sits on the right beside a white chair, marked with white ash on his body, participating in the puja.2010-10-16A homa ritual under a open-sided pavilion before a decorated altar with a large white-and-blue Devi murti flanked by other deity figures, a lion mount, and garlanded figures. A seated priest in white dhoti and bare upper body sits before a white fire pit with a bright flame and marigold petals. To the right, an elderly sadhu with long matted hair, white-painted body markings, a rudraksha mala and an orange-brown robe sits with hands joined. Beside him a person in white with an orange-and-yellow turban sits on a chair, and children in red and maroon dress sit near the altar. Coloured string lights and bunting decorate the background.2010-10-16 +2 copiesA night-time ritual in a decorated temple pavilion with a large goddess murti dressed in white and red, framed by an ornate silver arch and surrounded by smaller deity images and oil lamps. In the foreground a man in white ritual cloth sits cross-legged before a black square fire pit or yagna altar with brass vessels and marigold petals. A man in white with a turban holds a silver tray, while a standing man in a saffron-orange robe and a shaved-headed sadhu with white-painted markings and a bare upper body hold a flame, consistent with a homa or aarti. Several young boys in white sit on the left near the deity. Red and multicolored hangings and string lights decorate the background, and a cream armchair stands at right.2010-10-16