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Photograph of a Chandi Homa-style puja before a large, elaborately decorated deity murti of a multi-armed goddess riding a lion, with a white lacework arch and mango-leaf garland overhead. Flanked by smaller white-framed murtis and a garlanded figure. Several seated women in red and orange saris and shawls sit in rows before the altar, one holding a flower. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left holding a tray of fruit, and a shaven-headed priest in white kneels at the altar's edge tending the fire area with brass lamps and vessels. Many devotees, seen from behind, sit in the foreground.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A photograph of a Chandi Homa-style ritual before a large multi-armed goddess murti decorated with silver-white and shimmering ornamental arches and garlands. The central goddess rides or stands on a lion and holds weapons in several raised hands. Flanking deity figures, also ornamented with white silver backdrops, stand on either side. Ornate umbrellas hang above. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with shaved head, stands at left holding a tray of fruit and offerings. Seated in front, women in red, orange and saffron saris and a few men in white cloth perform the puja, with brass oil lamps, kalasha vessels, flowers and plates of offerings on the platform. Along the bottom edge, a crowd of devotees sits watching the ceremony. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual before a large multi-armed Durga murti seated on a tiger, decorated with white lace-like paper ornaments and a red-and-blue backdrop. Seated on a raised white platform are several women in orange and saffron saris and a few priests in white dhotis. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and shawl stands at the left, pouring or offering with a brass vessel. Oil lamps and brass vessels surround the platform, and a small pile of sticks sits in the foreground near a fire-pit area. On the right, a seated figure with white-striped forehead markings and an orange robe is present, and another person in white sits at the lower right. Other murtis in the background are dressed with garlands.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesA photograph of an evening Chandi Homa ritual at a temple stage decorated with large white and silver-embellished deity murtis, including a multi-armed goddess figure with a lion mount and an elephant-headed deity. Two priests stand at left, one in white dhoti with a bare upper body and the other in white with a red-bordered cloth over the shoulder. Several women sit cross-legged in red, orange and maroon saris before a homa area with kalasha pots, fruits, brass vessels, oil lamps and bundles of sticks. A seated crowd of devotees, including children, fills the foreground. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA Chandi Homa-style puja is performed before a large decorated deity murti of the goddess with a lion mount, flanked by smaller murtis including Ganesha on the left. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands with a ritual implement at the front while a second priest in white kneels at a raised offering platform holding items. Several women in red and orange saris sit in rows near the altar, and an older man in orange robes with a turban sits at the right beside a shaded throne-like seat. Marigold and leaf garlands, a white canopy and banana-leaf festoons decorate the altar, and a seated audience fills the foreground.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +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.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copies