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Indoor temple ritual before a large white-and-silver decorated shrine holding goddess murtis, including a multi-armed deity seated on a lion. Hanging string lights and red decorations surround the space. A bearded sadhu with white-painted forehead and body, wearing orange-red dhoti and rudraksha-style beads, raises one arm over a brass tray of offerings. Beside him a man in white ritual cloth with a white turban holds a tray. A devotee in white dhoti with garlands kneels at a white marble homa or puja platform scattered with petals and brass vessels, while several seated people in white clothes sit near lamps. Flower petals and incense sticks lie on the floor.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A night ritual inside a decorated temple hall with a large deity murti of a goddess, surrounded by smaller painted clay-style figures and white floral halo arches. In the foreground a priest in white dhoti with a bare upper body and a gold garland kneels beside a black square fire pit (homa kunda) on a white stepped platform, with flower petals and brass vessels nearby, and brass oil lamps and bells on the left. A child in white sits near the left lamp. Standing at right, a man in saffron robes with a bare torso and white body markings holds his hands in añjali, while another standing figure in white wears a yellow turban and holds a tray. Red and gold hangings and string lights decorate the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time photograph inside a decorated temple hall during a Chandi homa. In the centre, a square fire pit lined with white stone sits on a cloth-covered floor scattered with flower petals, with brass vessels and oil lamps nearby. A young man in white ritual cloth and a rudraksha-style necklace kneels at the pit. Behind, a standing man in white with a saffron-coloured cloth over the shoulder holds a brass plate, and a man in saffron robes stands beside him. On the right, a bearded sadhu in orange-red cloth with white forehead markings and a mala stands with his arms folded. Behind them is a large deity murti with a lion, framed by white decorative arches and garlands, with several children in white seated near the altar.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Photograph of a nighttime homa ceremony before a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, in a decorated hall with hanging lights and smoke rising. A man in white dhoti and white shirt kneels at a square fire pit, tending it with offerings, with brass vessels, lamps and flower petals on the white platform. To the right, a man in white robes and a white turban holds a plate of offerings. Beside him stands an older sadhu with a white beard, bare upper body, white markings on his arms, and a red-orange cloth wrapped around his waist. Behind them a red throne with gold trim sits empty, and other white-clad devotees are seated in the background.2010-10-16A night-time ritual in a decorated open pavilion with a large clay deity murti of a goddess riding a lion, adorned with white and silver decorations and flower garlands, with brass oil lamps lit in front. On the left, a shaved-headed man in white dhoti sits cross-legged before a square fire pit or homa altar with flower petals scattered around it. Behind him, several seated people in white and a standing man in white with a turban hold trays and make gestures. On the right, two standing men in saffron and orange-red robes, one with a bare chest and white body markings, join palms in reverence beside an empty cushioned chair. Hanging red and green pennants, flower decorations and twinkling lights frame the scene, with smoke rising in the background.2010-10-16Night ritual inside a decorated hall at a person ashram during Navaratri or Dasara worship. A large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, lion mount and ornate white and silver backdrop dominates the left, flanked by smaller figures and a canopy. In the centre, a young man in white dhoti and shawl kneels at a square white homa or puja platform with brass vessels, flower petals and a small oil lamp. Behind him, a man in white with a turban holds a brass plate, and an older man with white beard and white body markings in orange-red cloth stands at right beside a red and gold throne-like seat. Several boys in white sit on the floor, and string lights and incense smoke fill the room.2010-10-16A night ritual in a decorated hall before a large white-and-gold deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms and a lion mount, framed by a tall ornamental arch and a red-and-white canopy. In the foreground a man in white dhoti and gold necklace kneels at a square fire pit (homa kunda) with a brass bowl and oil lamps, while others sit in white near offerings and flower petals. Standing to the right, a man in a white turban and white robe holds a silver tray, beside a man in a saffron-orange robe, and an elderly bearded sadhu with bare upper body, white forehead markings, a turban and red-orange cloth holds a ritual item. Strings of fairy lights glow behind them. Several people are seated near the murti and a few more stand at the back. Two figures in this group wear distinctive saffron or orange clothing but lack the required combined cues for identification, so a person is unsure.2010-10-16Night-time homa at a ritual space decorated with a large deity murti surrounded by white ornate arches, flower garlands and small lamps. A seated priest in white dhoti and shawl with a yellow-marked forehead tends a square fire pit, its black surface edged by white steps strewn with flower petals and brass vessels. Behind him a standing attendant in white with a turban holds a brass plate, next to a robed sannyasi in orange clothing. On the right an elderly bearded sannyasi in orange-red dress with white body markings and rudraksha beads stands with ritual objects. Other seated participants in white sit by the deity platform. Bronze oil lamps and bowls rest in the foreground.2010-10-16A night ritual scene in a temple-style pandal decorated with lights and hanging red and white bunting. On the left stands a large white-and-silver deity murti of a goddess with garlands, flanked by smaller figures and an oil lamp on a brass stand. In the centre a young man in white ritual dhoti and a white head-cloth raises a lit lamp. A man in a yellow dhoti bends low over a white marble homa or yagna pit, while boys in white sit near the deity. On the right a saffron-robed monk holds a silver plate of offerings and a bearded sadhu with white sacred markings on his forehead and arms, wearing a rudraksha mala and a rust-coloured cloth, stands beside a cream armchair. Flower petals and brass vessels lie on the floor.2010-10-16Night-time ritual photograph inside a decorated hall with a large elaborate deity murti of a goddess with a crown, lion mount and silver halo at left, and small figures seated near it. A man in white dhoti with white ash on his body sits cross-legged before a black stone yajna or homa fire pit strewn with petals and flanked by brass vessels and oil lamps. Standing at right, a man in orange robe and a bare-chested man in red-brown dhoti with white markings hold their palms together in prayer near a throne-like seat. A bearded man in white with an orange turban stands holding a silver tray. Smoke rises and strings of lights glow in the background.2010-10-16A photograph of a night-time homa ritual before a large decorated deity murti with a golden lion mount, backed by an ornate white floral arch and red and gold ornaments. In the foreground a shaved-headed man in a white dhoti kneels at a black square fire pit on white steps, placing offerings amid scattered flower petals, with brass bowls, a kalasha and oil lamps nearby. Standing at right, a bearded sannyasi in saffron-orange cloth, rudraksha mala and white body markings raises one arm toward the fire. A white-turbaned man in white clothes stands beside a silver tray, and several seated devotees in white watch. Twinkling lights decorate the background. The bearded sannyasi may be a person, identified only by his saffron clothing, long matted hair and rudraksha mala, but his face and the image are not conclusive.2010-10-16