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A night-time puja at an outdoor pavilion lit by a string of red fairy lights. A seated priest in white ritual dress with a gold necklace and a shaved head, hands folded in prayer, sits on a low raised platform before a brass oil lamp with a lit flame. Several other men in white dhotis and gold chains sit around the platform, some with their backs to the camera. On the right a deity murti is decorated with garlands of white and red flowers, with a brass kalasha-style vessel, flower petals on the platform, and a palm frond upright beside it. The scene suggests a homa or puja ceremony.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night photo of a homa ritual at an outdoor pavilion lit by string lights. Several shaved-headed priests in white dhotis and white upper cloths sit on the floor around a low white fire platform strewn with petals, with a brass vessel and small bowls in front. A central priest in an orange-brown shawl and gold necklace leads the ritual. A tall palm-leaf stalk stands on the platform, and a lit oil lamp and brass lamps sit at the right beside a garlanded deity murti draped in red. A few standing figures in white are visible in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time ritual photograph at an outdoor ceremony. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha-style beads and a gold necklace, sits cross-legged on a raised platform with hands folded over his chest. Behind and beside him, other priests in white garments sit or stand near brass vessels, a tray and a lit oil lamp. In the foreground, two seated men in white cloth face the platform, one holding a brass plate, and an orange-and-red cloth bundle appears at the right edge. A tall green palm-leaf stalk stands beside the platform, a decorated pillar and string lights glow in the background, and flower petals are scattered on the white dais.2010-10-16A night-time outdoor ritual photograph at an ashram. A shaved-headed man in white dhoti and shawl with a gold necklace sits cross-legged on a mat in front of a dark raised platform decorated with flower petals and tall palm fronds, covering his face with both hands. Around him, several men in white dhotis with gold necklaces and rudraksha malas sit or stand, some with brass plates and vessels before them. A tall cloth-wrapped stick and a hoop hang in the background, with strings of red lights and a lamp at the right edge. Nearby stands a brass lamp and an offering plate. Visible people: about six, including partially visible figures in the foreground.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual photograph at an ashram-style courtyard lit by string lights. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold necklace sits with hands folded at his chest on a low wooden seat, eyes closed. Around him, several men in white dhotis and bare-shouldered shawls sit or kneel beside a low white platform decorated with flower petals and a bronze lamp. A standing man in white attends at back-left, and a figure in orange-brown cloth with gold necklace sits at right near a brass kalasha-style vessel and lamp. Banana-leaf or palm fronds stand upright beside the platform, and a hanging red-and-white patterned cloth decoration stands at left. Two heads in the foreground show shaved scalps with a single topknot. Appearance does not clearly establish any single presiding figure as a person, so this is a puja or homa-type ritual scene.2010-10-16Night outdoor homa at a fire pit lined with white marble in a temple courtyard. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a beaded necklace, stands at the centre holding a flaming torch to the fire. Seated priests in white clothes with beaded necklaces, one with hands folded in prayer, surround the pit, with brass plates of offerings, flowers, nuts and fruit in front. Behind them a pink Ganesha murti is garlanded with flowers, with brass lamps, a green cloth and strings of coloured lights overhead. Five visible people; no identifiable a person in appearance.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor fire ritual at a homa pit, with flames rising from a raised square fire pit. A standing priest in white dhoti and cream shawl with a beaded necklace holds a small lamp and a ritual item near the flame. Several seated priests in white clothes sit around the pit, one with a beaded necklace and one in an orange-toned wrap. Brass plates of offerings and nuts sit on a cloth in the foreground. Behind them a decorated shrine has a ganesha murti with a bright yellow-orange trunk and flower garlands, a brass lamp stand with lit wicks, and strings of red and white lights. Tall decorated poles with colourful bands and green leaves frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa at an ashram. A standing priest in an orange-saffron upper cloth and white dhoti holds a flaming ladle over a square fire pit, flames rising in front of him. Around the pit, five seated priests in white dhotis and white upper cloths, some wearing rudraksha malas and gold-toned necklaces, sit on mats and watch or chant. Tall dry palm fronds stand beside the pit, and garlands of orange and white flowers lie around the base. To the right, a large Ganesha murti with a red and gold garment and a brass lamp stand decorated with marigold garlands. Behind them, a wall is covered in strings of multicolour lights, with smoke drifting upward and a bright floodlight above.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time Hindu ritual outdoors beside a Ganesha murti decorated with marigold garlands and colourful string lights. Several shaved-headed men in white dhoti-style cloths and gold necklaces sit cross-legged on mats, one holds a brass plate of puffed rice or grains. A person in a red-and-gold shawl bends forward over a raised square fire or homa platform with offerings, while a man in white robes sits behind it near a brass kalasha and lamps. Oil lamps burn on the altar and smoke rises from the ritual area.2010-10-15October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a homa ritual outdoors under strings of lights. A seated priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold necklaces sits at a low table draped with a cloth and scattered flower petals, hands together over the rite. Around him several shaved-headed priests in white clothing, some with rudraksha malas, sit in a semicircle; a standing attendant in white with a mala is at the right edge. A tall palm-leaf stalk stands on the table, with brass oil lamps and a brass vessel in front. Hanging decorative cloth panels and a red-and-white garland with a fire lamp appear at the right. The seated central priest is not an identifiable candidate by the visible cues, so a person's presence is uncertain.2010-10-16 +1 copies