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A photograph of a temple shrine during a Devi worship ceremony. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with maroon borders stands with his back to the camera, facing a richly decorated image of the goddess with a lion mount, multiple raised arms and a white sequined halo backdrop. Beside her, another goddess figure in pink and white wears a marigold garland. Two girls in maroon and gold dresses sit at the lower right and left, and a second shaven-headed man in white sits at the lower left with a shawl. Brass oil lamps and a small fire, with a brass plate of offerings and lemons, sit in the foreground. Orange and red cloth hangs on the wall behind.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A temple puja scene in front of a large white-and-blue Durga murti with multiple raised arms holding weapons, a lion mount beside her, and a smaller pink Ganesha murti and a white-framed goddess figure at center. A man in white dhoti and shawl with red border stands at left holding a brass plate of fruit as an offering. Seated before the altar are young girls in maroon and red dresses and a bald man in white with gold necklaces at left. Brass oil lamps, flower garlands, marigold and white decorations, and a small framed deity image on the altar fill the frame. The photo is a Chandi Homa puja in a temple setting.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Navaratri puja at a temple shrine with large durga-style deity murtis behind, one with multiple arms holding weapons and garlanded with red and white flowers. Lit oil lamps stand on a white platform. A bare-chested man in white dhoti with a gold chain performs aarti, while a white-clad priest in white dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged on the floor, extending his hand over an offering. A man in white dhoti stands at left holding a lamp. Several girls in maroon and red saris, with flower garlands, sit nearby watching. Marigold petals and a tray of incense sticks lie on the floor. Decorative white silver-like arches frame the deities. No one present is clearly identifiable as a person from appearance cues.2010-10-16A photograph of a Navaratri-style puja in a temple hall. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a red-bordered cloth over one shoulder, stands on a raised platform holding a ritual implement toward the shrine. Beside him a seated man in white with a gold necklace and sandalwood markings on his arms performs the rite, while a small girl in a red-and-gold dress sits near the fire pit. The shrine holds a pink Ganesha murti garlanded in purple, a white-decorated deity murti of the goddess with a lion mount, and a large brass oil lamp. Small children in red dresses sit among brass vessels, flowers and fruit. A small fire burns in a pit in the foreground.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16A temple puja scene before a large multi-armed deity murti of Durga with a red-and-gold figure on a lion-like mount, flanked by additional goddess figures in white and red adornments. In the foreground a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and white shawl kneels at a low white altar, pouring offerings from a small vessel, with a small silver-and-red decorated image on a peetha. Oil lamps burn on brass stands, and a standing attendant in white dhoti holds a lit lamp. Three young girls in red and maroon saris sit to the right, with garlands of flowers and marigold petals scattered on the altar. Dried twigs and offering plates lie in front.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a ritual homa at a temple shrine. Two priests in white dhoti and unstitched upper cloth stand at a white stepped fire pit, one bending over it and holding a bowl. A young girl in red and gold traditional dress kneels beside the fire pit. Behind them, a large deity murti of Durga with many arms and a lion mount is garlanded, with a smaller white-clad goddess figure nearby. Brass oil lamps, silver vessels, fruit, and scattered flower petals surround the altar, and a third person in white stands at the left edge.2010-10-16A photograph of a ritual inside a temple hall before a group of goddess murti images decorated with white floral cutouts, garlands and a lion or tiger mount. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a red border and gold necklace sits with his back to the camera, near a lit brass oil lamp and flower-strewn steps. Two women seated on a mat in orange and red saris, one with a pink lotus in her hands, are in meditative stillness, while another seated figure in red and orange clothing sits at right. Marigold and rose garlands hang on the deity images, and a decorated umbrella is visible at upper right. The scene appears to be a puja or homa in progress.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night puja before a large white-decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, holding weapons, seated on a lion, framed by a white arched backdrop and flanked by smaller decorated murtis. Several priests in white dhotis and shawls perform rites: one standing at left in white holds a lamp, another seated at right in white with a gold necklace attends the ritual, and a kneeling figure in white near the front works at the altar. Brass oil lamps and a fire lit on a white stepped altar sit in front, with flower petals and a silver plate. Young girls in red and maroon dresses stand and sit around the altar, and a seated devotee in the foreground faces the scene. Hanging mango-leaf garlands and orange tassels decorate the canopy overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copies