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A priest in white dhoti with a gold border and a maroon turban stands at left, bare-chested, wearing a rudraksha mala, and holds a small oil lamp toward a dark stone deity murti seated in a golden arched niche with an orange backdrop. The deity has a yellow flower on its crown, a maroon cloth draped over its body, and raised hands holding a staff-like weapon. Golden figurines and a small offering stand in the foreground. A sign at left reads KAILA... in red and yellow lettering. This appears to be a puja or aarti at a shrine. Timestamp reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:52:14 a.m. Salem, Tamil Nadu.

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A photograph inside a shrine room of an older bare-chested priest with white hair and beard, wearing a maroon turban, rudraksha mala, white dhoti with gold border and a tattoo on his upper arm. He holds a lamp flame toward a dark deity murti with four arms seated on a golden arched throne with orange backdrop, draped in a red cloth, with a golden kalasha and offerings at its base. A framed portrait labelled "KAILASA SALEM" and "BHARATH" stands behind him, with a golden staff beside it. A timestamp reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:53:02 a.m. Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-08-11A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a red-and-gold turban stands at left, his back partly toward the camera, wearing a rudraksha mala. He holds a lit flame. Two smaller golden-yellow robed figures flank the central deity, and a gold-leaf arched backdrop with an orange cloth surrounds them. Small brass figures and an offering tray sit on a low platform in front, with a colourful kolam floor pattern beneath. The photo carries a timestamp reading Nov. 8, 2024 10:53:12 a.m., Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-08-11A bare-chested priest in a maroon turban and white dhoti with gold border pours yellow liquid from a small brass vessel over a black stone deity murti seated in a red garment, inside a gold-painted shrine with orange drapery and carved gold arches. The priest wears a long rudraksha mala. A small golden figure and kalasha sit on the base, and a framed portrait labelled "Salem" hangs at left. A timestamp reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:49:35 a.m., Salem, Tamil Nadu, indicating abhishekam ritual bathing in progress.2024-08-11A shirtless priest in a red and gold turban and white dhoti with a gold border pours yellow liquid over a black-stone deity murti with multiple arms, crowned and draped in a gold cloth, standing before an orange cloth and an ornate gold-framed niche. A second dark murti in a yellow garment stands to the right, and small brass figures and lamps sit on the floor below. A timestamp reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:49:49 a.m., Salem, Tamil Nadu. The priest's clothing and actions suggest an abhishekam ritual. The priest is a ritual officiant; no appearance-based a person candidate is identified.2024-08-11A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a maroon turban stands at left, with a rudraksha mala around his neck, and pours or offers water from a small vessel toward a group of three dark stone murtis on a black pedestal. The central four-armed deity murti is flanked by two smaller figures in yellow garments, all set against an orange cloth backdrop framed by an ornate gold arch. Small brass figurines and a kalasha-like offering sit on a tray in front, and a floral kolam decorates the floor. The photo carries a timestamp of Nov. 8, 2024, 10:48:08 a.m., and the location Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-08-11A woman in a white sari with a gold border, her grey hair in a long braid, leans forward to light an oil lamp in front of a black stone deity murti. The four-armed murti sits in an arched golden niche with an orange backdrop and wears a red-orange cloth, with pink flowers in its crown. Small brass and gold figures and a white-and-gold stepped base stand before the murti. A pink cloth hangs at the left edge. A date and location stamp reads Aug. 1, 2025 9:00:54 a.m. Salem Tamil Nadu.2025-08-01A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a white and gold head cloth stands at left, pouring liquid from a small vessel over a black deity murti with multiple arms seated on a red cloth in a gold-framed niche with orange backing. Beside it, a second black murti in a pink-red sari and ornate gold necklaces sits in a niche. In front, a brass tray holds a tiered golden pyramid-like object, small golden figures and a red cloth, with liquid spilling onto the floor. Yellow and red floral kolam designs decorate the floor and a flower offering sits at left. The scene is an abhishekam in a Salem temple shrine with gold-painted walls. No people other than the priest are visible.2024-11-07A photograph inside a temple shrine with gold-painted walls and orange cloth behind two arched niches. A priest with a cream-coloured turban and white dhoti, bare-chested with a long rudraksha mala and a tattooed upper arm, holds a flaming oil lamp in his right hand while facing a black stone four-armed deity murti of Vishnu with a conch and discus raised, adorned with gold ornaments. Gold and small metal utsava murtis and a black seated figure with bells and a jeweled cloth stand nearby, with flower offerings at the base. A timestamp overlay reads Nov. 26, 2024, Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-11-26A photograph inside a shrine with gold-painted walls and orange cloth behind the niches. A bare-chested older priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a white and gold head cloth stands at left, holding a small oil lamp toward a tall black stone deity murti of Vishnu with four arms, holding a discus and conch and wearing a crown with a red tilak. A rudraksha mala hangs on his chest. A brass tray with pink flower petals sits on an orange-draped table at right, and a partly visible black figure with bells and beaded ornaments appears at left. A timestamp reads Aug. 15, 2024 5:22:15 p.m. Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-08-15A photograph inside a shrine with gold-painted walls and an orange cloth backdrop. An elderly bare-chested priest with a white turban, white dhoti with gold border and a long rudraksha mala holds a lit oil lamp toward a tall dark-stone standing murti of Vishnu with four arms, holding a discus and conch, crowned and adorned with gold-trimmed ornaments. Beside him, a black stone deity is draped in red and pink garlands, and a tray of flowers and offerings sits at the right edge. A timestamp reads Aug. 15, 2024, Salem, Tamil Nadu. This appears to be an aarti or puja at the Perumal shrine.2024-08-15A photograph inside a temple shrine with gold-leaf walls and orange drapery. A bare-chested priest in a red and gold-patterned turban and white dhoti with a gold border pours liquid from a small vessel over the head of a golden-yellow draped deity murti. Dark stone murtis stand beside it, including a multi-armed figure at right. A floral kolam decorates the floor, and a rudraksha mala hangs around the priest's neck. The timestamp reads Nov. 8, 2024 10:49:46 a.m., Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-08-11A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white-and-gold head cloth stands bent forward, holding a small lit lamp or flame near a golden-framed shrine. Inside the arch sits a dark deity murti with multiple arms, partly smeared with yellow turmeric, flanked by a brass-gold kalasha-like shivalinga and small metal figures on a gold plate. Behind, a second shrine has orange drapery and a deity dressed in a pink sari-like garment with gold necklaces and a crown. The walls are gilded and the floor is polished with a yellow kolam design; a digital timestamp overlay reads Jul. 12, 2024 Salem, Tamil Nadu.2024-11-07