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A photograph of a group of women seated in a row at a night ritual, most dressed in red and maroon silk saris with gold borders. The foremost woman holds a pink lotus bloom in her hands, and others hold flowers and bangles. Marigold garlands and scattered petals cover the floor in front. Behind them stands a decorated deity murti with a garland and a row of oil lamps, and a shaved-headed priest in white ritual clothing chants at the right edge beside a small brass lamp and a fire-lit homa area. Watermelon, fruit and a brass tray sit on a red cloth to the left. Strings of coloured lights hang in the background.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Several 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 copiesA 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.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesPhotograph of women seated in meditation before a large Durga-style deity murti with multiple raised arms, white floral ornamentation and garlands, lit by strings of warm fairy lights. A foreground woman in a maroon and gold saree with a red blouse holds a pink lotus flower in both hands with eyes closed. Beside her, another woman in a deep red saree and rudraksha mala sits with eyes closed. Fruits including watermelon and pineapple, a brass plate and flowers are arranged on a maroon cloth at left. No identifiable a person candidate is visible.2010-10-16Night outdoor puja under a canopy, with a large clay deity murti of a multi-armed goddess on the left surrounded by strings of red fairy lights. A woman in a maroon blouse and reddish sari sits in the foreground peeling a green fruit over a tray of fruits, bananas and vegetables, while other women in saris sit behind her. On the right a man in white dhoti with red borders holds a small ritual item. Near the centre, a figure in white dhoti and turban stands beside a golden-framed seat, and a man in saffron robes sits nearby. Offerings of tomatoes, limes, coconuts, kumkum and marigold petals cover the altar cloth, with a wooden drum-shaped instrument in front and bunting and leaf garlands overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA nighttime ritual photograph in a festively lit hall decorated with strings of red fairy lights and large painted deity figures in the upper left. Several women in red, maroon, and gold silk saris sit on the floor in the foreground, holding green coconuts, pink lotus flowers, and leaves as offerings. Brass oil lamps with flames stand among scattered marigold and flower petals on white steps. On a raised gold-trimmed peetha at right, a man in white dhoti and shawl, with a turban, long gold-and-bead necklace, and saffron-toned garments, sits in a gold arch-shaped throne, while nearby attendees in white shirts stand. A wooden drum-like object stands in the right foreground.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 copiesNight 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 copies