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Night 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.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A 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.2010-10-16A 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 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.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual at a homa fire pit. In the foreground a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and yellow waist cloth kneels facing a lit fire on white stepped platform with flower petals. Behind, several white-clad men stand and hold a lit flame aloft on a plate, with one wearing an orange turban. Beside the fire, a large decorated deity murti with a crown, many arms and garlands, plus smaller figures, stands among brass oil lamps, fruit and offerings on a red cloth. Fairy lights glow in the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight 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.2010-10-16Night-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 copiesNight outdoor homa ceremony before a large tiered deity murti installation. In the foreground a fire pit with a bright flame sits on white steps, and a bare-torsoed priest in white dhoti kneels before it. Behind, a standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a flaming ritual lamp aloft while another stands nearby with a plate. Several devotees in white clothes stand with hands folded at the side. On the right, colourful deity murtis with garlands and ornate white decorations occupy an altar, with brass oil lamps, fruit, plates of offerings and an orange cloth in front. Strings of lights and triangular bunting decorate the background. No figure in the scene is clearly identifiable as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copies