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Night-time ritual at an outdoor pandal decorated with string lights and mango-leaf garlands. In the foreground a bald priest in white dhoti with maroon border stands before a white square homa/yagna platform holding a dark tray and brass vessels, with flower petals scattered. Another priest in white and maroon kneels tending the fire pit. To the right, a man in white dhoti and white shawl with a turban and gold-coloured necklace stands beside an ornate red and gold throne, facing the ritual. Behind, a large white-framed deity murti with a sword-wielding goddess form adorned with red garlands, and brass oil lamps and a kalasha are arranged. A banner with Kannada script is visible in the background. Watermarked archive photo.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor puja at a temple-style pavilion decorated with string lights and hanging leaves. A deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, garlanded with white and red flowers, stands on the left beside smaller murtis. Three men in white dhoti-style clothing with reddish-maroon borders attend the ritual: one standing at left with bare upper body and a gold chain, one bending over a white stone homa/yagna platform holding a ritual implement, and a third man at right wearing white robes and a saffron/cream turban, standing beside an ornate red and gold throne. The white stone platform holds brass vessels, kalasha-like pots, marigold petals and a small lamp, with white fabric and flower petals on the ground. A banner with Kannada-style script hangs in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual at an outdoor ashram pandal. A large white-and-silver decorated frame surrounds a Devi murti with multiple arms, red-and-white garlands and a lion mount beside her. In the foreground, a priest in white dhoti kneels before a square homa fire pit emitting smoke, with brass bowls, a kalasha and marigold petals on the white platform. Behind, a seated group of young boys in white garments sits on the floor, and a man in white holds a microphone while standing near a red-and-gold throne. On the right, an ascetic in saffron-orange robes with a white-bearded face and rudraksha mala holds a brass tray. Strings of lights and a hanging lantern decorate the backdrop.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time ritual in a decorated open pavilion with a large clay deity murti of a goddess riding a lion, adorned with white and silver decorations and flower garlands, with brass oil lamps lit in front. On the left, a shaved-headed man in white dhoti sits cross-legged before a square fire pit or homa altar with flower petals scattered around it. Behind him, several seated people in white and a standing man in white with a turban hold trays and make gestures. On the right, two standing men in saffron and orange-red robes, one with a bare chest and white body markings, join palms in reverence beside an empty cushioned chair. Hanging red and green pennants, flower decorations and twinkling lights frame the scene, with smoke rising in the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 11 20102010-10-11 +1 copiesA homa ritual is performed before a shrine decorated with deity murtis under a fringed canopy and string lights. Smoke rises from a square fire pit on a white base strewn with flower petals. A man in white dhoti and gold necklace sits cross-legged at right, extending his hand toward the fire, with a brass bowl beside him. A standing priest at left, wearing a white dhoti and holding a silver plate, offers materials into the fire. Other white-clad priests stand behind, and brass lamps and a kalasha sit near the shrine.2010-10-16October 11 20102010-10-11A night ritual scene in a temple-style pandal decorated with lights and hanging red and white bunting. On the left stands a large white-and-silver deity murti of a goddess with garlands, flanked by smaller figures and an oil lamp on a brass stand. In the centre a young man in white ritual dhoti and a white head-cloth raises a lit lamp. A man in a yellow dhoti bends low over a white marble homa or yagna pit, while boys in white sit near the deity. On the right a saffron-robed monk holds a silver plate of offerings and a bearded sadhu with white sacred markings on his forehead and arms, wearing a rudraksha mala and a rust-coloured cloth, stands beside a cream armchair. Flower petals and brass vessels lie on the floor.2010-10-16October 02 20142014-10-02Night-time homa in a street-side pandal. A square fire pit glows with flame at centre, with white-robed priests in white dhotis and shawls seated around it, some with bare upper bodies and sacred threads, one standing and officiating with a ladle-like vessel. Behind them stands a large deity murti with a white floral halo and garlands, flanked by lion figure and other figures, with oil lamps on stands and brass plates of fruit and offerings in front. On a red throne with gold trim to the right sits a framed portrait of a saffron-robed figure with a crown or turban shown in the picture; this is a portrait, not a physical person. Strings of coloured lights and banners decorate the background, and red chilies and nuts are laid out on trays. This depicts a Chandi homa ritual.2010-10-16 +1 copies