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Night photograph of a ritual at a Devi shrine decorated with white floral arches, green leaf festoons and string lights. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti holds a lit oil lamp aloft before a deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, flanked by smaller painted and garlanded figures. Another priest in white kneels at a fire-offering platform with brass vessels and leaves. On the right, an elderly man with white hair and beard, wearing orange robes and white markings, sits on an ornate red throne-like seat beside a figure in white, while a saffron-robed attendant stands nearby. Devotees fill the foreground, many with shaved heads. Orange banners and a backdrop with printed Kannada text complete the setting.

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October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual stage decorated with banana leaves, string lights and a tent canopy. Behind a central goddess murti with red, blue and white garlands stand ornate white-and-blue arches. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at the left holding a lit flame near a tall deity figure, while another white-clad priest kneels at a fire-offering area with brass vessels and a homa fire. Several young girls in red and maroon dress sit on the left and at the rear. On the right, a seated man in a white shirt and orange turban with folded hands sits on a red and gold throne beside a figure in saffron robes. A large crowd of shaved-headed and seated devotees fills the foreground. A Ganesha murti appears at far left.2010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesEvening ritual on a raised stage at an outdoor festival, with a decorated backdrop of painted goddess figures and a large deity mural on the left under a white floral arch. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested, holds a flame toward an offering vessel while a devotee in white kneels at a fire pit on the platform. On the right, a bearded elderly man in orange-red robes sits in a white chair beside a seated man in white with a turban-style headwrap, on a red-draped seat; a man in orange stands at the far right edge. Brass vessels and lamps lie on the stage, a green leaf garland hangs across the top, and a dense crowd of devotees fills the foreground, mostly with shaved heads and white clothing. A banner reads 17 October 2010 and Vijaya Dashami.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of an evening homa at a festival stage decorated with a white floral arch, strings of green mango leaves and fairy lights. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with a sacred thread, holds up a flaming lamp over a fire pit where a young assistant in white kneels. Several young girls in red and maroon dresses sit behind the fire pit. Painted and sculpted deity figures stand in the background, including a figure with a trident-like weapon. On the right, a seated man in a white shawl and cream turban sits on a red and gold throne with hands folded, beside an attendant in orange robes. A crowd of devotees is visible in the foreground.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Navaratri-style ritual on a decorated stage with a large painted deity backdrop showing a multi-armed goddess with raised weapons, surrounded by white floral garlands and a green leaf torana strung across the top. In the foreground, a priest in white dhoti and upper cloth stands with his back to the camera, while a bald man in white clothing kneels beside a low white platform holding ritual items. Several young girls in red and maroon traditional dress sit with brass plates, kalashas and oil lamps. On the right, a person in white robes and a white turban sits on an ornate red and gold throne, with another orange-robed man seated beside. Small children and onlookers sit in the lower foreground, and string lights glow in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA nighttime Navaratri-season ritual on a raised stage decorated with orange and white cloth and a banana-leaf garland. Behind the stage stand large white-framed decorated deity murtis, including a clay-like goddess figure with multiple arms holding weapons, and a figure with an elephant-headed form on the left. Several women in orange, red and magenta saris sit in rows, some with oil lamps and offerings, while a bare-chested man in white dhoti with a red border stands centre-stage facing the murtis. On the right, a seated man in white robes and a bald head sits beside a figure in saffron/orange robes with white and ochre markings. In the foreground, many devotees' heads are visible, and metal puja vessels and brass lamps sit on the platform.2010-10-16 +1 copiesPhotograph of a night Chandi Homa ritual in a decorated temple pandal. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at centre, raising a hand toward a shrine. A seated priest in white holds a bowl and a devotee in white kneels at left. Women in orange and red saris sit in rows, and a seated man in white with a white turban and a man with a red shawl sit at right on a raised dais. Behind them stand large white floral arches framing deity murtis, including a multi-armed goddess with a sword and a pink Ganesha figure at left. Bronze lamps, brass vessels and flower-decorated offerings fill the platform. Devotees in white and orange sit in the foreground. A banner with Kannada text hangs at upper right. Only the seated and standing people on the dais and in the foreground are physically present; the murtis and the banner portrait are not counted.2010-10-16 +1 copies