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Night outdoor ritual on an earthen ground beneath a decorated canopy strung with leaves and hanging tassels. A young shaven-headed priest in a white dhoti with red borders stands at right holding a flaming camphor aarti lamp over a metal plate. Seated at left, a woman in a maroon blouse and red-brown sari holds fruit, with more fruit, tomatoes and flower petals spread on the cloth. Brass oil lamps stand at the left edge. In the centre, a figure in orange robes sits on a gold-trimmed red throne, with another seated figure in white beside a wooden yajna stool and a fire pit. Several other people sit and stand in the background.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual at an ashram. A young priest in white dhoti and shawl with red-bordered edges, bald-headed, stands at right holding a lit camphor aarti flame on a metal lamp and a bell, performing aarti. A woman in a red blouse and maroon sari sits at lower left holding a green fruit, with flowers and offerings including tomatoes, limes and coconuts on brass trays. Behind, a figure in a red and gold ornate throne is seated, with several seated white-clad devotees and saffron-robed sannyasis nearby. A large golden Om symbol hangs above, with green leaf festoons and colourful cloth banners. Brass oil lamps and a wooden drum-like stand sit in front, and a crowd of seated devotees fills the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual on a raised orange-draped platform under a canopy strung with green leaves and a large golden om symbol. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border holds a lit aarti lamp toward the viewer, flame rising. A young woman in a maroon and rose saree sits cross-legged at left, holding a green fruit beside offerings of bananas, apples, tomatoes, coconuts and a watermelon. A red cushioned throne sits centrally; a seated figure in white is on it, with a few other seated devotees in white nearby. A large wooden drum-like object and brass plates sit on the platform. At left, a decorated deity murti with a red-lit backdrop and brass oil lamps stand. Several people are seated in the background.2010-10-16Night puja on an outdoor stage decorated with a string of festive lights, a large OM emblem and green leaf garlands. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with red border holds a flaming camphor aarti lamp in his right hand and a small brass bell-like vessel in his left. A young woman in a maroon blouse and maroon-and-cream sari sits cross-legged at the left, arranging fruits and flowers on a tray. Brass oil lamps, plates of bananas, limes, apples and marigold flowers surround the platform, and a deity murti stands at the far left. Behind them, a gold-trimmed red throne is occupied by a robed figure in white, while other people sit on the floor in the background.2010-10-16Night ritual photograph at an outdoor ashram setting lit by a flame. In the foreground a woman with long wavy brown hair in a maroon blouse and patterned sari sits with her eyes closed and hands folded near offering trays of red apples, green-yellow fruits, and flower petals. A brass lamp and a burning flame held in a metal vessel are raised by a white-clad priest on the right. Behind them a red and gold ornate chair stands on a white and marigold-strewn platform, with a seated figure in saffron and white with a turban-style headpiece and rudraksha beads, hands joined in prayer. Another seated figure in orange and white sits to the right, and devotees in white clothes sit on the ground in the background beneath strings of green leaves and red-and-gold decorated pillars. A large wooden drum-like object stands in the middle of the scene.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual photo. A man in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a yellow turban, rudraksha-style beaded necklace and gold bangle, stands before a red and gold throne while raising a lit flame. Beside him, a man in orange robes holds a metal tray, and an older man with white-painted body and a red cloth stands at right. Brass oil lamps, flower petals and fruit sit on a white-draped table in the foreground, with a wooden drum-shaped object at lower right. Women in red, green and pink saris sit at left; a woman with long hair watches at far left. Hanging garlands of leaves, bunting and a large trident-like arch frame the scene, with string lights at left.2010-10-16Night-time ritual on an open-sided pavilion with orange cloth and bunting. In the foreground a woman in a maroon blouse and dark red sari with a patterned border kneels at a low platform, holding a green fruit. Beside her, a bald man in white dhoti and shawl with red-striped borders raises one hand in a blessing gesture and holds a small object. The platform bears fruit, flower petals, brass vessels and plates of offerings. Behind them, brass oil lamps stand on tall stands, and figures in white sit around a central seat draped in red and gold. A large round wooden drum-like vessel and crowds of seated devotees, mostly in white and red, fill the background under strings of lights and hanging tassels.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNighttime homa ceremony under a open pavilion decorated with saffron-orange and white cloth banners, strings of leaves, and large circular ornaments. A standing priest on the right, with a shaved head, wears a white dhoti and shawl with red borders and a gold necklace, raising one hand in a blessing gesture while holding a small object. Beside him, a seated woman in a maroon blouse and red-and-maroon sari holds a green fruit and a pink item near a platter of fruit and flower petals. Behind them, a fire offering area with a raised altar, a kalasha-like vessel, and brass oil lamps on the left. Several white-clad priests and seated devotees in white and red attire fill the background. A large ornate gold-and-red throne chair is visible, with a robed figure seated in front of it. The scene shows fruits, brass lamps, and scattered flower petals on an orange cloth. Several people are visible, including partially seen figures in the background.2010-10-16Night photograph of a ritual at a temple setting decorated with hanging strands of lights and mango-leaf garlands. In the foreground a young girl in a red sari with gold border sits cross-legged before a table of fruit, bananas, flowers and kumkum and turmeric bowls. Behind her a man in white dhoti and white shawl with red borders stands bent over a wooden drum-shaped stool, while a second man in white with a yellow dhoti kneels and tends the offering. A plain ornate red-and-gold throne sits empty in the background beside brass lamps, and a row of attendants in white stands near a figure of a deity murti with a crown and multiple arms. Smoke rises from the sacred fire area and a crowd is seen at the right edge.2010-10-16