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Night ritual under a open-sided pavilion decorated with orange triangular pennants, hanging tassels and green leaf garlands. A standing priest with a shaved head, wearing white dhoti and shawl with a saffron-and-red border and a gold-coloured necklace, holds a lit flame over a fire pit or homa offering while a brass lamp and ritual vessels rest on the platform. Seated priests in white clothes, one in a green silk wrap, perform the rite. Devotees sit on the ground at the sides, and a red throne cushion holds a framed portrait of a woman in orange garments. Stone deity murtis and a tall decorated pillar appear in the background.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A night ritual under an open-sided pavilion hung with green leaf garlands, orange triangular flags and tasselled decorations. A bald man in white dhoti and shawl stands at right holding a lit flame in a metal vessel toward the seated group. Several seated priests in white with rudraksha malas chant with folded hands, and a bearded man in white sits at lower right. Before them, a red and gold throne holds a framed portrait of a figure. Brass oil lamps burn on the steps, and a flowered vessel and offerings lie nearby. Statues and illuminated figures stand in the background, consistent with a Chandi Homa fire ritual.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight outdoor ritual homa under a temporary roofed pavilion decorated with orange triangular pennants, hanging colourful tassel decorations and leaf garlands. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at right pouring an offering from a vessel into a fire pit, with flames rising. Seated devotees in white and red-bordered clothes sit around the fire pit; a seated figure at left in a green silk garment and garlanded red cloth holds a small bell or instrument. A large red cushioned throne with gold trim stands at left, beside a framed portrait photo on it. Brass lamps glow on the ground and oil lamps burn at the edges. A printed backdrop and sculpted statues appear at the back.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual under a corrugated roof decorated with green mango-leaf garlands, triangular orange pennants, hanging cloth-wrapped kalasha-like ornaments and large golden curved motifs. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl with maroon border holds a small vessel and offers into a fire pit, with smoke rising. Seated participants in white, several wearing rudraksha-style beaded necklaces and gold chains, sit on mats around the sacred fire and oil lamps. A woman in a green sari with a red garland sits at the left. Behind them stands an ornate red and gold throne with a framed portrait of a woman on it, with a painted banner nearby, statues in the background and onlookers at the right. This appears to be a homa fire ritual.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ceremony under a corrugated roof decorated with hanging striped cloth tassels, orange triangular pennants and a green leaf garland. A standing priest in a white dhoti and orange-striped shawl holds a lit flame and waves it toward a seated group. A red throne with gold trim holds a framed portrait of a woman. Seated priests in white and orange wraps sit on a raised platform beside brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, brass plates and offerings, while a large seated crowd in white watches. This appears to be a homa or aarti ceremony.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual at a yagna or homa setup. A bald man in a white dhoti with an orange-red border and a long beaded mala stands centre, holding a lit flame in his right hand and a small bell in the other. Strings of green leaves and hanging banners in red, yellow and blue decorate the open pavilion above him. In the foreground, a brass lamp with a burning flame and a brass kalasha-style vessel rest on a white platform, beside a flower garland and a green silk-wrapped deity murti. Seated devotees in white clothes with mala beads sit with hands folded in prayer on the left and right. Mats, metal plates and offerings are spread on the ground.2010-10-15Night-time ritual outdoors under a canopy hung with leaf garlands, circular golden rings and decorated cloth banners. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with a red border and a gold-bead necklace stands at centre holding a lit lamp and a small brass vessel. Around him, seated priests in white clothes perform the puja, one with hands joined in prayer on the right. Brass oil lamps with flames burn in the foreground, along with a brass kalasha and a deity murti draped in a green silk cloth and marigold garlands.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15Night-time ritual at an open outdoor pavilion hung with yellow-orange ribbons, leaves and a looped brass arch. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border stands centrally holding a brass lamp and a bell, with beaded necklaces. Seated around a white-draped low table, several men in white dhotis and shawls sit with hands folded in prayer, one holding a bundle of grass. A brass lamp, flower garland, a green silk-covered object and offering plates sit on the table. Other onlookers stand in the background.2010-10-15Night photo of a ritual in an open-sided tent hung with fringed festoons and plantain-leaf garlands. A standing priest in a white dhoti with a red-bordered shawl and a gold chain raises a lit oil lamp in one hand and holds a small bell in the other. Seated devotees in white and saffron clothing surround a low platform with brass plates, a brass oil lamp, flower petals, bowls and a kalasha-like vessel. Behind them is a red-and-gold throne bearing a framed portrait of a figure in orange robes, and a green-and-red sari-clad woman sits at left. The ritual appears to be a puja with aarti.2010-10-16 +1 copies