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Night puja at an open-sided pavilion with a striped tent roof and hanging tassel decorations. On the left, a large clay deity murti of Durga with multiple arms, red garment and crown stands beside a lion, with a white umbrella canopy above. Central altar holds brass oil lamps, fruit, flower petals, a red-cushioned throne with a gold frame, and kumkum and turmeric in bowls. A young priest in white dhoti and a saffron-coloured turban stands at right, holding a tray and attending the altar, while other white-clad priests in dhoti and shawl stand nearby, one holding a small plate. Smoke rises in the background and devotees watch from the right edge.

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Night-time outdoor puja under a corrugated tin canopy decorated with strings of red, yellow and blue tassels and green leaf garlands. On the left, a large multi-armed deity murti with raised weapons stands beside a lion figure, draped in red and white cloth. In the centre, brass oil lamps and a white stepped altar hold flower petals, a small brass pot and metal trays of fruit, coconuts and kumkum. A gold-trimmed red throne stands empty behind the altar. On the right, a man in a white dhoti with a white turban holds a silver plate, while another attendant in white and a saffron-coloured dhoti stands nearby. Fruits including bananas, limes and watermelon are arranged on the lower left, and bright orange and purple flower petals cover the floor. Several more people in white stand in the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night ritual at an open-sided pavilion with a tin roof, strung with red, yellow and green pennants and hanging decorations. In the foreground a long purple cloth holds plates of fruit (bananas, lemons, watermelon, pineapple, coconuts) and bowls of kumkum and turmeric, with scattered flower petals. A brass oil lamp stands at left beside an empty ornate red-and-gold throne. At centre a white stone platform holds a ritual setup. Several young men in white dhotis and shawls with red borders stand at right, one holding a plate; a shaven-headed priest in white and a man in a red-and-saffron cloth stand nearby. At left, painted deity murtis are partly visible under a decorated canopy. Devotees stand at the edge of the scene. The setting suggests a puja or abhishekam.2010-10-16Night-time outdoor puja at a temporary open-sided shrine with a tin roof, strings of flags and hanging tassels overhead. On the left a large painted deity murti with a crown and white decorated garments stands beside a brass oil lamp. In the centre an empty red velvet throne sits on a raised white platform, with a seated figure in white in the background. Several men in white dhotis and maroon-bordered shawls stand at right, one in a cream turban holding a silver plate of offerings. Tables hold fruit, bananas, limes, a watermelon, pineapple, flower petals and kumkum, with granite slabs laid out on a purple cloth.2010-10-16Night ritual scene under a corrugated roof decorated with orange and yellow bunting, garlands and hanging tassels. In the foreground a purple cloth covers an offering table laden with fruit, bananas, limes, watermelon, tomatoes, coconuts, flower petals and bowls of kumkum. Several young male attendants in white dhotis and cloths with red borders stand at the table, one bare-chested with a white cap offering a plate. A large brass oil lamp stands on the left beside a deity murti with garlands. Behind the table a red and gold throne stands empty. Further back, an older man in orange robes and a shaved head stands near a square white altar, with another seated figure in a white garment beside him. Devotees are visible in the background. The scene suggests a puja or abhishekam being performed.2010-10-16Night-time outdoor ritual under a tin roof draped with paper bunting and leaf festoons. At left, a large deity murti with a white and red costume and raised hands stands beside a brass lamp and trays of fruit, vegetables, flowers and turmeric powder. Behind a red-cushioned throne, a seated figure in white is surrounded by priests dressed in white dhotis and cloths, one holding a silver tray. At right, a shaved-headed young priest in a white dhoti stands beside a wooden stand with offerings. Many small granite or stone slabs are laid out on a purple cloth strewn with petals, consistent with a homa or yagna preparation.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 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight puja at a Navaratri pavilion. A large deity murti with multiple arms, holding weapons and riding a lion, stands at left beside fruit offerings of pineapple, limes, bananas and watermelon on trays. Center, an empty red-and-gold throne sits behind a white altar with brass oil lamps and flower petals scattered across the floor. At right, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and a white head cloth holds a silver plate, while a second man in white with a yellow cloth and rudraksha-style beads stands beside him. Other attendants in white and a seated figure are in the background; tasselled banners and string lights hang overhead.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night photo of a homa or yagna ceremony under a temporary pandal. A seated priest in white robes and a shaved head sits behind a low wooden table with brass bowls and offerings, while a seated figure in a red-and-gold chair wears a blue garment and a tall ornate headdress. Several white-clad priests in dhoti and shawl sit on a white cloth at the front, some near a wooden drum-like stool. Smoke rises from a fire area, with stacked firewood and silver plates of offerings in the foreground. Behind them stand large colourful deity murti figures, including a multi-armed goddess with a lion, and hanging bunting, leaves and tassels decorate the pandal. Several other people are seated at the side. The seated figure in blue and gold is not clearly identifiable from appearance, so no identity is asserted.2010-10-15 +1 copiesNight ritual outdoors under a tin-roofed pavilion with a large fire pit (homa) at centre, smoke rising. Behind it stands a standing woman in a red garment with a red-and-white beaded necklace, holding a small offering. A large ornate red-and-gold throne is to her right. On the left, a shaved-headed man in white dhoti and white shirt sits cross-legged on a mat before the fire, hands pressed together; a woman in white sits in the lower-left foreground. At right, a man in saffron-orange robes holds a tray. A deity murti with a red-and-gold crown and a sculpted figure sit in an altar of marigolds and brass lamps, with a large white decorated umbrella overhead. Tables hold bananas, apples, limes, coconuts, bowls of flowers, firewood and offerings.2010-10-11 +1 copies