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A photograph of a ritual ceremony in a decorated hall with string lights. Several women in red and maroon silk saris kneel or sit near a carved wooden throne-like seat, while one woman bends forward over an orange cloth. Women hold flowers and offerings. Behind them stand men in white dhotis, one holding a tray of offerings. Two large murtis are visible: a pink Ganesha with a garland and a white-decorated goddess figure in pink with yellow garland. Brass oil lamps stand on the right, and a dark stone square with flower petals sits in front. Plates of red fruit and rice sit on the left.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A ritual puja scene in a decorated shrine room with string lights and an ornate umbrella overhead. In the centre, a woman in a red and orange silk saree bends forward to offer flowers, while a woman in a maroon saree and a young girl in a cream-and-red saree sit cross-legged on the floor before a carved wooden seat and a black stone yantra-like platform. Behind them, a pink Ganesha murti and a white-and-pink goddess murti adorned with yellow and pink garlands stand among white floral decorations. Brass oil lamps, fruits, a kalasha-style brass vessel and marigold garlands lie in front. A man in white dhoti and shawl stands at left holding a silver plate, and a partially visible person stands behind.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a ritual scene at night, lit by string lights and an oil lamp. Several women in silk saris sit on the floor in front of a carved wooden seat with a lotus-like medallion. A woman in an orange-gold sari bends forward toward the seat, and a woman in a maroon sari holds offerings. At left, two men in white dhotis with maroon borders stand, one holding a silver tray. Brass oil lamps, bowls of fruit, limes, flowers and a black stone platform sit in the foreground. Behind them stand pink and white clay murti of Ganesha and a goddess adorned with garlands. No visible person is identified as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time ritual photograph at a temple-like hall strung with small warm lights. Four women seated on the floor in silk saris (maroon, red and gold, and white with red border) hold offerings such as fruit and flowers in their hands. In front of them is a carved wooden seat with a wheel-like pattern, and a stone-edged yantra/homa area with brass vessels, fruits, coconut and a small lamp. On the left, a man in white dhoti with a red border pours or tends from a vessel, and another person in orange and gold kneels nearby. Behind, a pink and white decorated Ganesha murti and a decorated goddess murti stand beside a brass oil lamp and a garlanded arrangement. A decorative umbrella hangs above the altar.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ceremony in a decorated hall with string lights. Two priests in white dhotis and white upper cloths stand at left, one holding a silver tray of green fruit. Seated at center, three women in red, maroon and gold saris and a fourth in a white-and-red sari make offerings and receive fruit. A carved wooden seat with a circular lotus-style back sits in the foreground beside a stone platform with brass bowls, flowers and a lamp. Behind them stand a pink Ganesha murti with white ornamental backdrop and a decorated deity murti in a pink and gold sari with garlands. A brass oil lamp stands at right and a colorful umbrella hangs overhead. a person is not visibly identifiable in this image.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual inside a temple hall. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left, bending over a low white platform. Two women in orange and red saris sit cross-legged before the fire pit, one holding a pink flower and a small bowl. Behind them stand a pink Ganesha murti with a garland and a goddess murti with a lion mount, plus a brass oil lamp with a flame. Fruit, brass vessels, a bell and scattered flowers and leaves lie on the cloth-covered floor. A man in white at right tends the homa. Near the lower right a tall dry-leaf offering sits beside the fire area.2010-10-16Indoor ritual scene at a Chandi Homa with a shrine of deity murtis. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti leans over a white altar-platform, offering a red apple toward a woman in orange sari who kneels and holds a small plate. A woman in white sari stands at the left holding a tray of apples and fruit. Several women in orange and red saris sit around the altar with flower offerings. Behind them stand a pink Ganesha murti garlanded with purple flowers, a white-clad goddess figure with a green and yellow garland, and a large Durga murti with multiple arms holding weapons, riding a lion. Brass oil lamps burn and brass vessels, bells and a pile of dried sticks sit on the altar. A coloured canopy hangs above.2010-10-16A 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 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night photograph of a ritual at an outdoor ashram setting lit by string lights. On the left, large painted deity murtis, one with a blue body and yellow garland, stand beside a decorated canopy. A standing man in white dhoti and a maroon-bordered shawl holds a microphone and a tray of fruit. Several women in red, green and maroon saris kneel on a flower-strewn floor before brass oil lamps with lit flames, one woman holding a silver plate. Behind them, a man in a white dhoti and white top with a saffron-and-gold turban sits on a red and gold throne with rudraksha-style beads at his neck. A fire pit with a lit flame sits in the lower right, where a man in white kneels, and a kalasha-style brass vessel and marigold garlands are visible.2010-10-16 +1 copies