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A night-time ritual scene in an ashram hall during a homa or puja. Several boys in white dhotis and shawls sit cross-legged on an orange-draped raised platform, one reclining with bare feet extended toward the foreground. A standing man in white on the left and a seated priest in white on the right attend the proceedings. Behind them stand deity murtis decorated with white flower garlands, including an elephant-headed Ganesha in pink and a goddess figure, with red fairy lights strung overhead. Brass plates hold fruit, flowers and ritual items, and a wooden stand with a round wooden board sits near the platform. A banner partly reading SRI ANA is visible at the top left.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night photograph of a homa or yagna ritual on an orange-draped raised platform with white-and-maroon striped edging. A priest in white dhoti with a maroon-bordered cloth kneels at the right beside a wooden yoga-style seat with a golden crown-shaped top, while another man in white lies prostrate in the foreground. Several young boys in white dhotis sit on purple cloth at left, one playing a small instrument. Brass plates hold fruit, flowers, rice and vessels, and a fire pit smokes in the centre. Behind, an elaborately decorated deity murti of the goddess with multiple arms, red and gold garments and a lion vahana is lit with string lights, with a crowd seated in the background.2010-10-16Night ritual scene at a temple shrine lit by warm light. On the left, a large deity murti in red and gold with a crown and multiple arms stands beside a figure in white and pink, with a garland on her shoulder. On the orange-draped platform, several boys in white dhotis and shawls sit cross-legged, one holding a conch-like object while others chant or assist. A man lies prone on the platform at the front, legs extended, wearing white with a red-bordered cloth. Brass plates hold fruit, flowers, rice and offerings, with a kalasha and lamps nearby. Behind the platform, a homa or yagna fire pit emits smoke, and a few seated priests in white attend the ritual. Coloured string lights and hanging decorations fill the background, with a small crowd of onlookers visible at the right edge.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual under a temporary pandal. On the left, a large decorated deity murti of Durga with a lion and a figure of Ganesha stand on a white and gold altar draped with garlands. In the centre, a priest in white dhoti lies stretched out on an orange-draped platform beside a copper-brown vessel with a golden crown-shaped top, with offerings of fruit, flowers and brass plates before him. Several young boys in white dhotis sit on the platform and mats, and a standing priest in white attends the fire, where smoke rises. Devotees sit in rows in the foreground on the right, watching. Strings of lights and garlands decorate the tent.2010-10-16Night-time ritual at an outdoor pandal decorated with orange and yellow hangings and small fairy lights. Several young men in white dhotis with red-and-white borders kneel and bow on an orange-draped platform before a large clay-and-wood kalasha or pot set on a stand. Behind them a ceremonial deity murti with a red, gold and blue ornate backdrop stands among flower garlands and fruit offerings, with a Ganesha figure at left. Brass plates with flowers, fruit, betel leaves and grains sit on the platform. A man in white and gold stands at right with a long-handled ladle near the vessel. A crowd of devotees watches from the dark background, and a photographer's camera is visible at the left edge. Smoke rises from the ritual area, consistent with a puja or homa.2010-10-16A night-time homa ritual in a temple hall with orange walls. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and white shirt sits cross-legged before a square fire pit with a white stone border, hands joined in prayer. A woman in a white sari with a red border kneels in the foreground with palms pressed together. On the right, a woman in a red sari and gold jewellery sits on an ornate red-and-gold throne. Behind the fire pit, a shaved-headed man in white kneels with folded hands. Behind them stand golden-framed deity murtis, including a ganesha figure on the left and a goddess figure with multiple arms in the centre, with brass oil lamps and a kalasha. Foreground trays hold bananas, apples, limes, coconut, sugarcane pieces, and stacked firewood and ghee bowls for offerings.2010-10-11A photograph of a devotional ritual at night in an open courtyard. In the foreground a man in white dhoti and shawl lies prostrate face-down on an orange cloth, arms extended, before a brass plate of red fruits (apples or pomegranates). Behind him four women in saris sit on a patterned mat holding small red fruits, two in deep red and maroon saris with gold borders and one in a white and red sari. Behind them stand image figures of Ganesha (pink-red) and a goddess deity murti with decorated garlands and marigold offerings, with an oil lamp lit at right. Several men in white dhoti stand with hands folded at the left edge, and a string of red lights hangs above. The scene suggests a puja with padapuja-style prostration.2010-10-16A night-time homa or yagna at a temple shrine decorated with red string lights and a large ornate deity murti of a goddess in the background. In the foreground, a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and sacred thread kneels on the left with hands folded in prayer, while a standing priest in white robes and a shawl holds a lamp or ritual implement beside a square black homa pit lined with white marble and scattered flower petals. Brass bowls, a kalasha-like vessel, fruit and oil lamps sit on the platform. Several young boys in white and seated devotees with folded hands are visible, and a canopy with fringed edging hangs above the shrine.2010-10-16Night ritual photograph of a homa/puja at an ashram. A bald man in white dhoti with maroon border stands barefoot on an orange cloth, holding a tray of fruit, while a seated man in white at left works at a brass tray. Several boys in white kurtas kneel at a decorated altar covered with scattered flower petals, brass oil lamps, and offering plates of fruit and sweets. Behind them, a crowd of seated devotees in white fills the hall under strings of leaf and flag decorations, with a colourful deity murti and festival lights at the right.2010-10-16Night photograph of a puja at a raised orange-draped stage before a large deity murti with many arms and a red-dressed form, decorated with lights and garlands. A shaven-headed young priest in white dhoti and white shawl with red borders kneels at the right, facing the altar. Several boys in white clothing sit along the left side near offerings of fruit, flowers and brass plates, while a seated priest on the right wears a gold necklace and white garments. A large carved wooden throne-like seat with a golden canopy stands at centre. Devotees sit on the floor at the far right. Hanging ornaments and leaf garlands decorate the pandal, with smoke rising in the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16