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A photograph of a seated row of women in red and maroon saris and blouses, sitting before an altar decorated with colourful deity murtis, marigold garlands, and strings of fairy lights. The woman in front, with long wavy hair, holds a pink lotus flower in her hands. Brass oil lamps, brass vessels, fruit including a watermelon and pineapple, and scattered flower petals lie on the altar before them. A shaved-headed man in white sits at the far right, wearing rudraksha malas, and appears to be performing the ritual. The setting is a night puja with flowers strewn across the floor.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night photo of a Chandi homa-style puja at an ashram temple. In the foreground a woman with long wavy dark hair in a maroon blouse and rust-red sari sits cross-legged holding a pink lotus, with fruit and flowers before her. Behind her several women in maroon and deep red saris sit in a row holding offerings. Above them, a large deity murti with a white-and-silver decorated backdrop shows multi-armed goddesses holding weapons, and a figure in a red and pink sari with a green-and-yellow garland stands to the left. Strings of red lights glow in the background. On the right a man in white dhoti and shawl stands near a golden-edged seat, and an elder in white sits beside a gold-framed platform. Marigold petals and scattered flowers cover the floor, and a tray of red apples and a watermelon sit nearby. A wooden drum-like object lies on the right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesSeveral women in deep red and maroon saris sit cross-legged in a row before a decorated shrine during an evening puja. The woman in front, in a brown-red sari with gold border, holds a small pink flower offering in her hands and looks down. Behind them, women in red and white saris hold flowers and stand near brass oil lamps with lit wicks. Marigold garlands and scattered petals lie on the floor. A man in white ritual clothing with a bare upper body stands at the right, holding a small bell or instrument. Behind the group, white and colourful deity murtis with garlands and fairy lights decorate the altar. Fruit such as a watermelon and a pineapple rests on a red cloth at left.2010-10-16 +1 copiesFour young women sit cross-legged on a purple cloth bordered with gold, seated in a row before a decorated altar during a ritual. The two left women wear red saris with gold borders and rudraksha malas; the third wears an orange sari over red; the fourth, at right, wears an orange sari. Each holds pink lotus flowers and loose flowers. Behind them stand deity murtis including Ganesha in pink with a red garland, a goddess figure in white with a yellow garland, and a lion-mounted goddess with a trident. Brass lamps, kumkum and turmeric plates, and flower offerings fill the altar area.2010-10-16 +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 photograph of a Navaratri-style puja at an ashram pandal decorated with large white and gold sculpted deity murtis, including a multi-armed goddess figure with a lion, an elephant-headed Ganesha in pink, and other standing deities garlanded in marigolds. Several women in red and maroon silk saris sit on the floor with pink lotus flowers in their hands, while a shaved-headed priest in white sits in front of a wooden stand with brass lamps, bowls and offerings. On the right, an ornate gold-and-red throne holds a seated figure in white, and a man in white with a gold chain sits beside it. Red string lights and oil lamps glow in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time puja in a temple hall lit by strings of red lights and small oil lamps. In the foreground, a young woman with long dark wavy hair wears a maroon sari with gold border and holds a pink fruit in her hands. Several women in red, maroon and gold saris sit in a row on an orange cloth-covered platform behind her, some holding fruits. At the lower right, a man in a white dhoti with maroon border lies prostrate on the floor before trays of apples, limes and rice. A wooden ornamental seat with a gold-trimmed arch stands at right, and colourful goddess murtis with garlands fill the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +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 copies