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A photograph of a temple ritual in a covered hall at night. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, with red border and a gold necklace, holds a silver tray of grain or offerings while another white-clad priest stands beside him. Behind them is a large decorated deity murti with a white floral and silver arch, flanked by smaller murtis in garlands. Smoke rises from a fire pit in the foreground, and brass oil lamps and a metal vessel sit on the altar. A hand with a bangle holds a ladle at the lower right. Strings of red lights hang at the left.

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A photograph of a homa ritual at night in a temple hall lit by string lights. A bald priest in white dhoti with red borders and gold chain stands at left, holding a silver tray and sprinkling offerings toward a smoking fire pit. Behind the fire, large deity murtis with ornate white and silver backdrops, garlands and red-and-green garments are visible, along with brass lamps and a kalasha. Another priest in white stands center-right beside a brass bell and lamp, and an arm reaches in from the right holding a ritual implement over a bowl of flowers. Smoke rises across the lower frame.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night ritual in an open-sided pavilion with a corrugated metal roof. Several men in plain white dhotis with red-bordered cloth and gold chain necklaces stand around a smoking fire pit. The central priest, shaved-headed and bare-chested, holds a large polished brass plate aloft over the fire. Behind the pit stands a large decorated image of a goddess with a red-and-white canopy, flanked by other deity figures wreathed in garlands. Strings of lights glow in the background, and brass lamps and offering plates sit on the stone platform in front of the fire.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16A 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 ritual photograph of a homa at a shrine decorated for a goddess. Three priests in white dhotis and shawls, with rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, perform the fire ritual over a white stone fire pit where a flame burns. The standing priest pours from a brass vessel, a kneeling priest tends the fire with a ladle, and another kneeling priest at left holds a brass pot. Behind them, several women in red and orange saris sit in a row. The backdrop holds a large white-framed deity murti with a multi-armed goddess figure and a lion mount, flanked by other painted and ornamented images, a fringed canopy, string lights and red and orange decorations. Marigold petals are scattered around the fire pit.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a temple ritual in a covered hall before a shrine of several goddess and deity murtis draped in white garlands, with white umbrellas above and lit brass oil lamps in front. A shaved-headed man in white dhoti and shawl, with a gold beaded necklace, stands at a square fire pit, holding a small offering dish. Beside him a man in a white kurta and dhoti stands with folded hands, and a person in white bends forward at the left edge, tending items on the floor. Brass pots, bowls and a small lamp sit on the white pit edge. Multicoloured hanging decorations and orange flags hang from the roof.2010-10-15Photograph of a night homa ritual before a large deity murti decorated with white floral arches and an umbrella canopy. A bald priest in white dhoti with red border and gold necklaces stands at left holding a silver tray, while a second white-clad priest beside him holds a brass bowl. Smoke rises from a fire pit in the foreground, and oil lamps burn near the central deity. Another figure in white stands behind the fire pit, and red-and-white lights line the background. Several other deity figures are arranged beside the central murti.2010-10-16Night photo of a homa ritual at an outdoor pavilion. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border stands at a fire pit, pouring offerings from a silver plate onto the flames, with smoke rising. Behind him is a large deity murti with a crown and a decorated silver arch, flanked by smaller figures and ornamented altar backdrops. Brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, fruit and flower offerings sit on the stone platform. Two other white-clad attendants stand to the left, with strings of red and white lights in the background.2010-10-16Night-time homa at a temple shrine with a smoking fire pit in the foreground. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold necklace and a red-bordered cloth stands at left holding a silver tray of offerings. Beside him another priest in white with a rudraksha-style necklace attends the fire. Behind them a large decorated deity murti of a goddess with a crown and white flower garlands sits under an ornate white umbrella canopy, with lit oil lamps and brass vessels on the altar. A devotee's hand holding a spoon appears at lower right. Strings of lights glow at left.2010-10-16Night 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 copiesA night-time homa ritual before a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, decorated with white floral backdrop and a canopy above. In the foreground, a priest in white dhoti and shawl raises his arm beside a square fire pit with a dark ash surface, brass pots, oil lamps and scattered flowers. Smoke rises through the frame. Seated to the right, a man in white with a yellow shawl and bead necklace sits on a red and gold throne-like chair holding a tray, while beside him a man in orange robes with white markings on his arms and forehead sits on a cushion. Several other seated figures in orange and red clothing face the fire, and string lights glow in the background.2010-10-16