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A 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.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A 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.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 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 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA 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 15 20102010-10-15Night-time outdoor ritual at a square stone fire pit (homa/yagna) with a lit flame rising from it. A standing priest in white dhoti with a gold necklace holds a lit oil lamp or ritual flame aloft. Around the pit, several shaved-headed men in white dhotis and rudraksha malas sit with plates of offerings, flowers and grain, and some have palms joined in prayer. On the right, decorated deity murti of Ganesha and a lion-mounted goddess stand under garlands, with a lit torana of coloured lights and hanging green leaf garlands overhead. Ceremonial brass lamps and kalasha-style vessels sit on the floor.2010-10-15A 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 inside a decorated pandal before a large row of goddess murtis with silver halo arches, a lion mount and a central Durga-style figure with multiple arms. In the foreground a white-clad priest with shaved head and gold necklace pours liquid from a vessel onto a square white altar with a dark water-filled basin, while a second priest in white dhoti and shawl raises an arm above. A third priest kneels at right holding a brass bowl and lamp. Brass lamps, bells and small vessels sit on the altar, strewn with flower petals. Women in red and orange saris sit behind, and string lights glow at left.2010-10-16