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Night-time ritual photograph in a temple hall decorated with a large white and blue deity backdrop of a goddess with multiple raised arms, plus a pink Ganesha figure with garlands at left. Several young women in red and orange saris sit cross-legged on a purple cloth, decorated with flowers in their laps. A man in white ritual dhoti with red borders, bare-shouldered, pours or offers from a metal vessel toward the seated women, while another priest in white stands behind. Brass lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, fruit on brass plates and a wooden drum-shaped stand sit on the orange floor cloth. Red fairy lights glow in the background. Ritual setting consistent with a chandi homa or puja, with a visible fire-free offering arrangement.

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October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA nighttime Chandi Homa ritual under a open-sided canopy strung with orange triangular flags and multicolored hanging tassels. On the left, a large clay deity murti of the goddess with multiple arms and a red-and-white ornate backdrop, flanked by a lion-like figure and fruit offerings including watermelon and bananas on a red cloth. In the foreground, several young women in maroon and red sarees sit cross-legged on a orange cloth-covered platform, one holding a flower. A bald man in white dhoti and shawl stands at right, lifting a ritual implement above a wooden homa altar with smoke rising. Behind them, a seated figure in orange robes sits on a white throne-like seat beside a few other seated people, with an audience of several dozen devotees in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night puja under an open-sided pavilion with a decorated canopy. On the left stand colourful deity murtis, including a pink elephant-headed Ganesha with a purple garland and a goddess with a red-and-gold figure. In the foreground a young man in white dhoti and shawl with red border holds a lit camphor aarti flame in a metal lamp and a bell, facing a row of seated women in red and maroon saris. A woman in a maroon sari on the left holds a green fruit, and trays hold red apples, limes and brass plates with flower petals. Strings of lights and triangular bunting hang above. Behind, several people in white stand and sit.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual before a decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, shown with a golden crown and a lion mount, set in a pandal with floral arches and hanging lights. In the foreground, several young women in red and orange saris sit cross-legged on a purple cloth, with plates of fruit, bananas, a watermelon and flower offerings in front of them. To the right, a man in white dhoti and a white shawl with red borders stands beside a wooden drum-like stand, and another man in white kneels with his hands raised. Smoke rises from a lamp at the centre. Devotees in the background watch, and an ornate red and gold throne is visible.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa ritual before a decorated shrine of deity murtis, including a large Ganesha figure with pink skin and red garland and a goddess murti with a lion beside her, all garlanded in white and yellow flowers, with strings of fairy lights behind. Six young women sit in a row on purple and red cloth, wearing red and orange sarees with flower garlands and holding pink and yellow flowers, several with rudraksha-style mala necklaces. In the foreground a shaven-headed priest with bare back faces the fire pit, a sacred fire smoking before him, with brass oil lamps and offerings nearby. Other white-clad priests stand at the right with ceremonial gold necklaces. Flower petals scatter the ground.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual in an outdoor temple pavilion lit by warm string lights and a bright floodlight. Central deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, draped in red and orange garments and garlanded with flowers, stands on a lion-shaped base beside a large white decorated arch. To the left, an elephant-headed deity figure with pink skin and red garland stands among other murtis and umbrellas. In the foreground, several women in red and maroon silk saris sit cross-legged on a floor covered with flower petals and offerings, some holding flowers. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like vessel sit on the mat. A man in white sits with a drum-like instrument at lower right. On the right, a gilded red throne holds a seated man in white clothing with a turban and gold necklace, while attendants in white stand nearby. Smoke rises in the background.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight outdoor ritual at a pandal decorated with a large deity murti of a goddess in red and pink with a crown, lion mount, and tall garlands. In the foreground several young women in red and orange saris sit on a purple cloth with fruit, bananas, a watermelon, and brass plates of offerings. On the right a man in white ceremonial clothes with a red-bordered shawl performs a homa or puja beside a large wooden drum and a tall smoking fire vessel, while others in white sit nearby and a crowd watches. A hanging kalasha-style ornament and bunting decorate the canopy, and a red throne-like seat stands in the background.2010-10-16A photograph of a Hindu ritual in progress before a large decorated shrine. Several women sit in a row on red and purple cloth, wearing red and orange saris with flower garlands and holding pink lotus flowers and marigold blossoms; a rudraksha-style mala is visible on the woman at left. Behind them stand large deity murtis, including a pink-faced Ganesha with a red garland and a goddess murti with long dark hair and red garlands, decorated with white lace-like arches, umbrellas and string lights. Brass oil lamps with lit wicks stand among flowers and offerings. In the foreground at right, a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and upper cloth sits facing the shrine, holding a ritual item. Other white-clad attendants are visible in the background at right.2010-10-16 +1 copies