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Night outdoor ritual on a raised orange-draped stage under a tent roof with hanging green leaf garlands and coloured bunting. At left, a large painted deity murti with multiple arms and a lion mount stands beside a tiered lamp display. At centre, an ornate golden throne with an empty seat sits behind a wooden yajna-style vessel and brass plates of fruit, flowers and offerings, with smoke rising. A bald man in white dhoti and white shawl with red borders stands at right with palms joined in prayer. Several boys in white seated on a purple cloth assist at the offerings, and a large crowd of women in red and orange saris sits on the right.

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A night-time ritual on an orange-draped stage beneath a tent, with a large clay deity murti decorated with fairy lights at left. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with red-maroon borders stands with hands folded in prayer at right, facing the altar. Several white-clad young priests sit cross-legged at left among brass plates of fruit, flowers and marigold petals. A carved wooden peetha-style seat and a wooden chest-like offering stand centre stage, with a smoky fire pit or incense haze behind. Banana leaves and a garland of green leaves hang across the upper right. Devotees seated on the floor at right watch in front of a dark backdrop with red triangular bunting.2010-10-16Night ritual on an orange-and-white raised platform under a canopy strung with green leaves and hanging tassels. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with red borders stands with palms pressed together in namaskar beside a large wooden yajna vessel with smoke rising from it. Several young boys in white sit cross-legged on the left before a purple cloth covered with flower petals, fruit, brass plates and small oil lamps. To the left stands a large ornate deity murti of a goddess in red and gold, with a decorated arch and fairy lights behind. A rows of seated devotees in orange and red fill the right side, and a cameraman is visible at the far left edge.2010-10-16A night-time puja on a raised orange-and-white platform under a tent with hanging green leaf garlands and tassels. A bald man in white dhoti and shawl with maroon-red borders stands with palms pressed together in namaskar, facing a large ornate deity murti and decorated backdrop on the left. Children in white sit to the left near brass plates of fruit, a kalasha-like vessel and offering trays on a purple cloth scattered with flower petals. A wooden seat or stand sits centrally. Seated devotees in white and orange fill the lower right, and a cameraman in the left foreground films the ceremony. Hazy smoke and warm lights glow in the background.2010-10-16Night-time puja on an orange-draped raised platform in front of a large deity murti with a decorated face and multiple arms, lit by strings of red lights. A shaved-headed young priest in white dhoti and shawl with red borders kneels in the foreground. Other white-clad boys and young men sit on the platform among fruit, flowers, brass plates and a kalasha, with a dark wooden peetha or throne behind them. A man in white with a gold necklace sits at the right edge. Hanging decorations and green leaves fill the upper frame, and the seated audience is at the right.2010-10-16Night 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 ritual at a covered open-air hall with a visible fire pit and rising smoke near the centre. Several young boys in white dhotis sit or kneel at an orange-draped platform with purple cloth, bending over a silver tray. Brass oil lamps stand on the left beside trays of bananas, lemons, pineapple and a watermelon. A man with a bare torso and white cloth at right raises his arms, and a red throne is partly visible behind the central figures. Seated devotees in white fill the background. Strings of bunting and hanging garlands decorate the ceiling.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual under a corrugated roof with festoon lights and saffron pennants strung overhead. Several young women in red and maroon saris sit in a row on the left, one holding a flower, before a long orange-draped altar laid with fruit, coconuts, brass plates and small bowls. On the right a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl stands holding a lit lamp and an offering vessel, with smoke rising. Behind him a seated figure in saffron-coloured clothing sits by an ornate red-and-gold throne-like seat. At left are white floral-decorated deity murti with garlands and a painted mural. Several onlookers are visible on the right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa ritual in a decorated pandal lit with red fairy lights. A white-clad priest with a shaved head kneels at a square fire pit, tending it, while another white-clad priest sits beside him. Behind the pit stands a large deity murti of a goddess with a red-and-gold figure, flanked by smaller murtis, ornate white floral arches and a gold-fringed canopy. Women in orange and red saris and devotees in saffron sit on the platform. At right, a figure in a white turban and white dhoti sits on an ornate red-cushioned throne, with attendants in saffron and orange around him. Brass vessels, a silver kalasha-style pot, bowls of fruit, lit oil lamps, incense smoke and a folded white cloth lie in the foreground.2010-10-16Night outdoor homa pavilion decorated with mango-leaf garlands, hanging cloth bunting and a circular golden ring motif. In the centre a fire pit burns on a low platform; a standing priest in white dhoti with red border holds an object at chest height. A large red-and-gold throne is occupied by a seated figure in white. Brass oil lamps stand on the left beside trays of bananas, limes, coconuts, turmeric and kumkum. Behind them a decorated deity murti with garlands. Several children in red and maroon outfits sit in front, and a bald man in white with a gold necklace sits on the right beside a brass vessel. Rows of seated devotees fill the background.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 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 outdoor ritual under a canopy strung with leaf garlands and small triangular flags. At centre, a fire pit with flames stands before an ornate red and gold throne-like seat. A standing priest in white dhoti and white shawl with red border holds an item over the fire. A seated priest with shaved head wears a gold necklace and white clothing at right, beside a bowl of yellow powder. Several children in red and maroon dresses sit in front on a purple cloth, with fruit (limes, bananas, coconuts), brass oil lamps and kumkum-coloured offerings on trays. Decorated deity figures with floral garlands stand at left under string lights. This appears to be a homa-style fire ritual with puja offerings.2010-10-16