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A photograph of a night puja before a large multi-armed goddess murti, shown with a lion mount and several attendant deity figures with white floral halos, flanked by small umbrellas and tall tassel poles. Two men in white dhoti and shawl sit on the floor before a low altar with brass lamps, a silver bowl, and offerings of flowers and kumkum. The man on the left, bare-chested with a gold necklace, sits with palms pressed together in prayer. The bald man on the right wears white with red borders and rimless glasses. Other figures stand at the edge of the frame.

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A photo of a nighttime puja before a large multi-armed goddess murti seated on a lion, with a gold-trimmed white and silver backdrop, and attendant deity figures including an elephant-headed figure to the left. Two shaved-headed priests in white dhotis with red borders sit cross-legged before a white stone altar. The priest on the left, with a gold chain, presses his palms together in prayer, while the priest on the right, wearing glasses and a gold chain, sits in profile. Brass oil lamps stand on the altar, with a silver bowl, a small brass vessel, and offerings of flowers, fruit and white sweets arranged in front.2010-10-13Two priests in white dhotis sit cross-legged before a white homa platform at night in a temple pavilion. The priest on the left, a young shaved-headed man, wears a gold necklace and a white shawl and sits beside brass and silver vessels and bundled offerings. The priest on the right, also shaved-headed, wears white with a red-bordered cloth and gold chain and sits near brass lamps. Behind them stands a large deity murti of a multi-armed goddess riding a lion, with a white floral backdrop, flanked by additional decorated murtis, brass oil lamps and red and yellow umbrellas. Pillars are wrapped in colourful fabric. A banner in Kannada script and a Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam logo appear at the right.2010-10-13Night outdoor ritual before a large multi-armed goddess Durga murti seated on a lion, with a crowned, ornate backdrop and white decorative arches. Two priests in white dhotis sit on a raised white platform in front of a fire pit and offerings: the priest on the left has his palms pressed together in prayer and a rudraksha-style bead necklace, while the priest on the right wears a white cloth with red borders and gold chains. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, bowls of fruit, flowers, coconuts and heaps of powder sit in front. Tall decorated pillars with tassels frame the scene, and a banner at right shows Kannada text.2010-10-13October 13 20102010-10-13A priest in white dhoti with a bare upper body and a gold chain sits cross-legged on a mat before a square white marble homa fire pit, holding a ladle or spoon over it. Behind the pit stands a large deity murti of Durga, with multiple arms holding weapons, riding a lion, framed by white lace-like arches and flanked by smaller murtis of Ganesha and other deities. Brass lamps, a kalasha, bowls and a tray of offerings sit on red cloth. Strings of small lights and red-and-gold hangings decorate the hall, and smoke rises through the scene. Another white-clad priest sits at right, and a few more devotees are partly visible in the background.2010-10-12Evening homa at a temple shrine. Central deity murti of a multi-armed goddess with a long black braid stands on a lion, holding weapons, framed by a white lace-like arch and a fringed white canopy. Flanking murtis include a pink Ganesha with a trunk and two smaller goddess figures in white arches. Brass oil lamps stand on the white altar platform, with bowls of fruit, flowers and offerings below. Two men in white dhotis sit in front: the one on the left wears a gold chain and a white shawl, the one on the right is shaven-headed with a red-bordered white cloth over his shoulder. Dried wood and banana-leaf offerings lie at the bottom edge. Colourful tassels hang from pillars and a poster on the right shows a figure in orange.2010-10-13Evening homa at night in a temple hall lit with string lights. A priest in a shaved head, white dhoti and gold necklace sits at left holding a tray of burning camphor or offerings. A large deity murti of a multi-armed goddess stands on a lion, surrounded by ornate white floral frames, with smaller murtis of Ganesha and other deities. Oil lamps stand on the floor and a square fire pit with offerings sits in front. Several white-clad men stand and sit in the background, and a banner with printed text hangs on the wall at right.2010-10-12A photograph of a homa or yagna fire pit, a rectangular stone fire altar with a dark basin, in a temple-style shrine decorated with white and gold floral arrangements. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold beads kneels at the altar with hands folded in namaste, holding a small brass bowl and a ladle-like spoon. Behind the altar stands a large deity murti of Durga riding a lion with many arms, flanked by smaller murtis of Ganesha in pink and gold, and other goddesses. Oil lamps, brass lamps, kalasha-style offerings and a bell-like object sit on the altar, with a second devotee in white standing at the upper left. Colourful umbrella canopies and orange cloth hang behind the shrine.2010-10-15A night-time temple puja on an elevated stage under a white fringed canopy. Central deity murti of Goddess Durga with multiple arms rides a lion, flanked by Ganesha on the left and other deity figures in white and blue garlands. Priests in white dhotis with bare upper bodies and gold necklaces perform rituals at brass lamps, offerings and fruit trays. A seated person in orange robes sits on a red ornate throne at the right, with a figure in orange beside it. Green mango-leaf garlands hang above, and a crowd of devotees, mostly seen from behind, sits in front.2010-10-15October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Chandi Homa-style ritual before a large multi-armed goddess murti decorated with silver-white and shimmering ornamental arches and garlands. The central goddess rides or stands on a lion and holds weapons in several raised hands. Flanking deity figures, also ornamented with white silver backdrops, stand on either side. Ornate umbrellas hang above. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with shaved head, stands at left holding a tray of fruit and offerings. Seated in front, women in red, orange and saffron saris and a few men in white cloth perform the puja, with brass oil lamps, kalasha vessels, flowers and plates of offerings on the platform. Along the bottom edge, a crowd of devotees sits watching the ceremony. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a ritual before a large decorated deity murti. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands centrally holding a lamp toward the shrine. Seated before the altar are devotees in red, orange and saffron saris and dhotis, and a bald man in white dhoti at left and a bare-chested man in orange cloth at right, plus other attendees. Offerings of fruit, flowers and brass vessels sit on the platform, and a lion figure is visible at the altar base. A crowd in the foreground watches from the bottom edge. A signboard reads Sri, and a Dasara-style banner is visible at right.2010-10-16 +1 copies