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A night puja scene in a open-sided pavilion decorated with hanging tassels, triangular pennants and red fairy lights. On the left, a large painted deity murti of a multi-armed goddess stands among smaller figures, with brass oil lamps (diya) and offerings of red kumkum and flowers on a cloth-covered altar. A devotee wearing a cream turban and white dhoti-style garments with a bare chest stands with palms pressed together in namaste near an empty ornate red and gold throne with a wooden peetha in front. Yellow flower petals are scattered in the air. Other men in white ritual clothes and an orange-clad person stand in the background, and a bronze kalasha sits nearby.

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A night puja scene in a temple pavilion decorated for Navaratri. On the left stands a colourful deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, with brass oil lamps (lamps) and offerings of flowers and kumkum before it. In the centre is an empty red and gold throne with flower petals scattered on the floor. A person in white clothes and a cream-coloured turban kneels at the right with palms pressed together in namaskar, bare-chested with a white shawl. Another white-clad priest stands at the right holding a brass vessel. Strings of red lights and paper triangle bunting hang overhead. A wooden drum-shaped object sits on a cloth before the throne.2010-10-16Night photograph of a ritual space under a canopy at an outdoor puja. On the left stands a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, beside a lion figure, with other figures and vases nearby. A gilded red throne stands empty in the centre-right. In the foreground, a man with a bare upper body wrapped in white cloth, with a shaved-top head and long hair at the back, stands with palms joined toward the altar. Other men in white and orange robes attend nearby, one seated on the floor near brass oil lamps, flowers, fruit and a wooden platform. Red fairy lights and bunting hang in the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a fire ritual under a covered open-air pavilion decorated with red and orange triangular bunting and hanging red tassels. In the foreground a bare-shouldered priest in a white dhoti kneels before a square fire pit with a flame and offerings, with a brass lamp and plates of fruit and flowers set out. On the right, a large deity murti with many arms holding weapons stands in ornate silver and red decorations, beside a lion figure and smaller figures and a lit string-light tower. Several white-clad priests stand in the background, one holding a lit flame on a brass vessel, while a standing man in an orange turban and white clothes raises a burning lamp.2010-10-16A night-time homa or yagna at a temple shrine decorated with red string lights and a large ornate deity murti of a goddess in the background. In the foreground, a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and sacred thread kneels on the left with hands folded in prayer, while a standing priest in white robes and a shawl holds a lamp or ritual implement beside a square black homa pit lined with white marble and scattered flower petals. Brass bowls, a kalasha-like vessel, fruit and oil lamps sit on the platform. Several young boys in white and seated devotees with folded hands are visible, and a canopy with fringed edging hangs above the shrine.2010-10-16Night photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual under an open pavilion decorated with hanging tassels and bunting. In the foreground a bare-backed man in white dhoti with a beaded necklace kneels facing a fire pit with flames and a row of offerings. Standing priests in white cloth hold a lamp and kalasha-like vessels in front of an altar. Beside the fire, a large murti of a goddess with many arms, a red-and-white garment and a lion mount is decorated with garlands, with a smaller figure of a lion and an elephant-headed deity nearby. Brass oil lamps, fruit offerings and a red cloth-covered table fill the foreground, and strings of lights glow in the background. A few seated devotees in white are visible at the left edge.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesNight photograph of a Chandi Homa setting under a open-sided shelter with a tin roof. Three men in white dhotis, bare-chested, stand and kneel beside a square white-edged fire pit (homa kund) scattered with marigold and rose petals and brass vessels. The man at right kneels bent over the pit with hands near its edge, while a standing priest in white with a white head wrap holds his hands together in namaskar. Behind them stand large clay deity murtis in bright robes and crowns, including a goddess with multiple arms and a lion, with brass lamps and a ceremonial parasol above. Strings of fairy lights and a green leaf garland hang in the background.2010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa or puja at a temple shrine with a large deity murti of Devi, multi-armed and adorned with white floral decorations and a garland, under a white canopy. In the foreground a priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border, gold chain and tilak, pours grains or offerings from a silver plate into the fire pit. Another priest in white kneels beside him, and a standing figure at right tends a brass lamp. Small oil lamps and flower petals surround the altar, with red fairy lights behind the left side.2010-10-16Night-time homa at a temple courtyard before a large decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, with a figure of Ganesha and smaller images nearby. A priest in white dhoti and white upper cloth with a turban stands at a fire pit holding a lamp, while other priests in white with rudraksha-style necklaces stand with hands folded behind him. A man in white kneels in the foreground beside the fire pit. Brass oil lamps, fruit, sweets and offerings are arranged on orange cloth, and string lights and hanging festival decorations frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copies