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A 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.

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October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a ritual in progress at a temple hall with string lights and painted deity figures behind. In the foreground, several women in red and maroon silk saris and gold-bordered clothes sit in a row holding green mangoes and pink flowers in their hands. Brass oil lamps with lit flames sit on a floral-strewn floor along a white altar platform. On the right, a man in white ritual cloth bows low before a seated figure on a red-cushioned golden throne with a gold-framed back, who wears a white dhoti with a saffron-coloured shawl, multiple beaded necklaces and a white head covering. Other people stand in the background. A brass vessel and a wooden board sit at the right edge.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual at a temple pavilion during Navaratri. On the left stands a large decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, framed by white floral decoration and red fairy lights. In front, rows of women in saris sit on the floor with fruit, including green and yellow fruits, and offerings like watermelon, bananas, lemons and kumkum-coloured powder arranged on purple cloth. A young woman in a maroon sari in the foreground holds a green fruit. In the background, a robed man in white with a head wrap stands beside a red and gold throne, holding a plate, while another man in orange robes and a man in saffron-brown clothing stand nearby. Brass vessels, flowers and a wooden drum-like stand sit on the floor.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night 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 copiesNight outdoor ritual at an ashram stage. A woman in a white sari with a cream-coloured head wrap and a flower in her hair stands beside an ornate red velvet chair with gold trim, gesturing with an orange cloth. Seated on the left in a row, several women in orange, red and green saris hold pink flowers and face her. A man in a white dhoti with a red border and gold necklace speaks into a microphone behind them. Brass oil lamps (diyas) with flames sit on a flower-strewn platform, with a conch shell and marigold petals in front. A man in orange robes stands at the right edge holding an instrument. Lights and a decorative backdrop frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time photograph of a Chandi homa ritual under a decorated pandal. On the left, a painted deity murti of a multi-armed goddess with raised weapons stands beside a lion, with a red-and-gold lit backdrop and fairy lights. In the foreground a young woman in a maroon-and-red sari holds a green fruit, seated behind a spread of fruits, bananas, a watermelon, coconuts and kumkum on a purple cloth. Several women in red and maroon saris sit in a row offering fruit. In the centre-right, a figure in white dhoti and white shawl with a white head wrap stands before a red and gold throne, while an ascetic in saffron robes and an older bare-chested priest with a white head covering officiate near a wooden ritual drum and brass vessels with flowers and fruit. Festive bunting and garlands hang overhead.2010-10-16Night ritual at a Chandi Homa outdoors under a canopy. Women in maroon and red saris sit in a row on an orange-draped platform, several holding fruit and flowers, with brass plates of apples, bananas, melons and other offerings before them. Behind them a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, adorned with white floral decoration, stands beside a lion vahana. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl with maroon borders, bald-headed, holds a lit lamp or incense near a fire pit with smoke. Strings of lights, saffron pennants and a decorated ornate throne-like seat appear in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copies