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A photograph of a seated puja in progress. Four men in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls with red borders sit on orange mats, holding small brass bowls and offering vessels; the foremost man wears a long rudraksha mala and gold necklace, and another wears a gold chain and bracelets. Behind them, several men in white dhotis and shawls, one with a purple head covering, sit and hold similar vessels. Brass lamps, brass kalasha-style vessels, flower petals and a thali with offerings lie on the orange cloths in front. A small open book rests on the floor. The scene reads as a pada puja gathering.

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A seated group of ritual participants during a puja on a tiled floor. In the foreground, several men in saffron-orange robes with maroon borders sit cross-legged on orange mats, with rudraksha malas and brass lamps and bowls set before them. The central man wears a saffron robe, a gold-and-bead necklace with a pendant, and a red tilak on his forehead; his hands rest together in his lap. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and white shirts with sandalwood markings on their chests sit with palms joined or hands folded. Brass plates hold fruit, flowers and small bowls. An open book lies on the right. Four people are prominent in the front and many more are visible behind.2010-10-18 +1 copiesA photograph of a group puja in a hall with a white floor. Several men in saffron-orange robes with red borders sit cross-legged on orange cloth, many wearing gold-bead and rudraksha necklaces. In the foreground a bearded man in orange holds a small brass bell and a ritual implement over brass plates of flowers, turmeric and kumkum. Beside him a younger man with a shaved head and white sandalwood marks on his chest and arms holds a lit oil lamp. Behind them men in white dhotis hold brass lamps and bells, and open books lie on the floor. Brass pots and offering plates fill the foreground.2010-10-16Photograph of a seated group of saffron-robed priests performing a puja at floor level on orange mats. In the foreground, a bald man with a grey beard and gold necklace holds a small leaf or bowl, and beside him a man in a dark-maroon-bordered saffron cloth with rudraksha beads offers from a bowl. Brass plates, cups and lamps with flower petals and white offerings are arranged on the mats before them. Behind, several men in white dhotis with white and red forehead and body markings sit with hands joined. A soft glow of oil lamps lights the hall.2010-10-19October 26 20102010-10-26A seated group of men performs a ritual in an ashram hall. In the foreground, a man with a greying beard and a gold-beaded necklace sits with palms pressed together, wearing a saffron garment with a maroon border. Beside him, another saffron-clad man with a shaved head and gold necklace extends his hand over a brass plate of offerings. Behind them, several saffron-robed men sit on orange mats, and further back, men in white dhotis and white shawls with rudraksha malas and sandalwood marks sit in rows. Brass plates with flowers, fruit, kumkum and brass lamps and vessels sit on the mats, and an open book rests on the floor. This appears to be a padapuja-style puja setting.2010-10-16December 30 20112011-12-30A photograph of a seated ritual line of men in orange and saffron robes sitting on orange mats before brass puja plates, lamps, and small brass vessels on a white marble floor. Foreground figures include a bald priest with white and red tilaka marks and glasses, reading or handling an open book, and a man in orange with hands pressed together in prayer. Behind them, men in white dhotis and white shirts with yellow sacred threads sit in rows, and a few people in orange shawls are visible at the far left. Brass lamps and offering dishes line the floor, and a camera tripod stands in the background. The setting appears to be a large hall during an evening ritual.2010-10-24Indoor photograph of a seated ritual gathering with many participants on a white floor. In the foreground, three men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas sit cross-legged and raise small brass oil lamps or bells, while a bald man in orange at the right holds a small brass bell and a notepad. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and shawls with white and red-striped cloth, some with tilak marks, hold brass lamps and dishes. Women in white saris with yellow borders sit at the upper left. Brass plates, a small brass lamp, flower petals, a red cloth mat and a tripod-mounted camera are visible, and a book lies on the floor. Roughly twenty to thirty people are visible.2010-11-15 +1 copiesA seated group ritual in an ashram hall. Two monks in saffron-orange robes with red borders and rudraksha malas sit cross-legged on a mat in the foreground. The man on the left, with a grey beard and glasses, holds a small brass lamp with a lit flame; the younger monk on the right, with a shaved head and white tilak marks, holds a lit oil lamp and a brass vessel. Behind them, men in white dhotis and shawls with red borders hold lit lamps. Brass plates with flowers, fruit, rice and kumkum sit on the mat in front, along with a open book. Tripods and equipment are visible at the top left. This is a puja with oil lamps, and the presence of the lamps and offerings suggests an arati or padapuja-style rite.2010-10-16A photograph of a seated group performing a puja ritual on a white marble floor. In the foreground, a man with grey-streaked hair and a beard wears an orange robe and a long beaded necklace, seated on an orange mat with his hands near brass plates and offerings. Beside him, a bald man in an orange robe and gold-beaded necklace sits with his hands raised toward a small brass lamp and offerings. Further right, two younger men in orange robes and rudraksha malas hold ritual implements over brass dishes of flowers, fruit and grains. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and white shawls, marked with white tilaka and sandalwood lines, sit with books and brass vessels. Offerings of fruit, flowers, betel leaves and small oil lamps are arranged on brass trays and red cloths.2010-10-16A photograph of a seated group of men performing a ritual puja. In the foreground, several men in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls with maroon borders sit on orange mats, holding small brass oil lamps and bowls; the closest man on the right wears gold beaded necklaces and wristbands. Behind them, men in white dhotis and shirtless figures with rudraksha malas and tilak marks hold brass lamps and offering vessels. Brass plates with flowers, lamps and cups are arranged on the floor, and an open book lies on a mat. Several men wear white dhotis and sacred ash markings on their bodies.2010-10-19A seated group of monastic devotees in saffron and orange robes sits on orange mats on a polished floor, with small brass pots, cups and plates of offerings arranged before them. The central figure, bald and wearing glasses with a rudraksha mala, sits cross-legged with hands joined low over a small brass vessel. Beside him, a monk with a shaved head and white tripundra markings on forehead and arms holds an open book on a red cloth. Behind, men in white dhotis and shawls, some with tilak and malas, sit in a row. Brass lamps and incense stand on the floor, and a wooden stand with an open book is visible at right.2010-10-22 +1 copies