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A photograph of a devi darshan homa at a temple shrine. In the centre, a fire burns over a homa pit with a kalasha or offering covered in red and white cloth, garlanded with white flowers and green leaves. Behind, a large ornate deity murti of a goddess sits within a golden arched shrine decorated with colourful striped and floral garlands, with flanking figures and a garland-draped stand. Two priests in white dhoti with gold borders stand with hands folded in anjali; one on the left holds a ritual object, and another priest on the right wears a white dhoti, bare upper body and rudraksha mala. Palm-leaf toran decorations frame the scene, and a decorated pillar with floral and elephant motifs stands at the right edge. Three people are visible.

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A temple ritual at KAILASA Hyderabad during Navaratri. At the centre, a decorated deity murti of a goddess sits in a golden canopy framed by palm-leaf stalks, with garlands and a red-and-green draped backdrop. In front, a small fire pit burns with a flower-garlanded offering on a red cloth. Four men in white dhotis stand around it: at left, a bare-chested priest with a yellow turban and folded hands; a second bare-chested man with a white turban and rudraksha mala; at right, a man with a white turban, rudraksha mala and folded hands; and a figure in a red turban and white garment seated at the far right. Brass oil lamps sit on the platform and a golden throne-like chair stands at right.A photograph of a night-time Navaratri devi puja inside a temple hall. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand around a decorated altar: the man on the left in a yellow turban holds a small brass bell or vessel, the priest in the centre holds a lit oil lamp, and the man on the right in a white turban stands with palms pressed together. A raised golden canopy hangs with striped festoon drapes above three deity murti decorated with marigold and multicolour garlands, flanked by a golden throne. In front, a fire pit with flames sits beside a kalasha-like offering covered in red and gold cloth and a white flower garland, with palm-leaf stalks framing the scene.A photograph of a ritual homa at a temple shrine. A small fire burns on a raised altar in front of a decorated deity murti, with white and green flower offerings placed at its base. Behind the altar, a deity murti in red and gold robes sits beneath a gold and red canopy strung with multicoloured garlands, flanked by additional figures. Three men stand to the sides: on the left a bare-chested man in a yellow turban with gold chain and white dhoti holds his palms together in namaskar; in the centre a bare-chested man in white dhoti raises his hand near the fire; on the right a man in a red turban and rainbow-striped garland sits and a standing man in white dhoti folds his hands. Tall palm-leaf decorations frame the scene.A photograph inside a temple shrine during a devi puja. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand around a central fire, the middle priest holding a lit lamp, the right priest with palms joined in namaskar. The left priest wears a yellow-orange turban and rudraksha-style beaded necklaces. Behind the fire is a gilded deity murti of a goddess decorated with red and green garlands, flanked by smaller figures and brass kalashas with offerings. Tall palm fronds frame the scene, and a red and gold throne with garlands sits to the right.Night photograph of a fire ritual at a shrine. Flames rise from a fire pit in the center, with a green-and-red draped kalasha or offering bundle decorated with white flowers in front of it. Behind the fire, a deity murti with multiple arms stands in a gilded shrine framed by colourful festoons and a golden arch. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand at left, one with hands folded in namaskar and one holding a ritual object. At right, a man in a red turret-style turban and a multicolour garland sits on an ornate gold-and-red throne, while a priest in white with a gold-bordered dhoti stands at far right with palms joined. Tall green palm-leaf pillars frame the scene. This appears to be a homa or puja ritual.A photograph of a nighttime homa at a temple-like shrine. A large fire burns in a sunken pit in the foreground, with a green and red cloth-draped offering and white flower garlands placed near it. Three men stand at left and right with hands joined in namaskar; two at left wear white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies with rudraksha or bead necklaces, and one at right wears a white dhoti with gold border and a bead mala. Behind the fire, a deity murti is decorated with garlands and flanked by colourful framed images. Palm-leaf toranas frame the scene, and a seated figure in red and white garlands sits on an ornate gold chair at right. Festival bunting in pink, yellow and green hangs above.A photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual at night in a decorated temple pavilion. A large fire blazes in a pit in the foreground, with a garlanded kalasha or offering near its base. Behind it stands a tiered arrangement of deity murtis adorned with garlands and flower decorations, with a central goddess figure in red and gold. Two priests in white dhoti and shawls stand on either side with palm-leaf toran posts. On the right, a man with a white turban and bare chest, wearing a rudraksha mala and gold chain, presses his palms together beside an ornate gold throne draped in a garland of red, green and white flowers. Multicoloured flower garlands hang along the top of the tent.A ritual fire ceremony in a decorated temple hall. A large fire burns before a richly ornamented deity murti with a golden crown and multiple raised arms, set against a gold-and-red drape. Three priests in white dhotis with gold-bordered cloths stand around the fire; the priest at right, bare-chested with a rudraksha mala, presses his palms together, while the left-side priests, one wearing a saffron-orange cloth, perform the offering. Tall green palm-leaf posts flank the fire pit, which holds a garlanded, red-and-white draped offering. At right, a figure in a red and white robe with a striped shawl sits on a golden throne before a painted pillar.A photograph of a homa ritual inside a decorated temple shrine at night. A fire burns in a stone fire pit in the foreground, beside a wrapped offering bundle decorated with red and gold cloth and white flowers. Behind it, a deity murti stands in a golden shrine lined with colourful garlands, yellow and pink flowers and kalasha pots. On the left, a bare-chested man in a yellow turban and white dhoti holds a tray with a red cloth. Beside him, another priest in white stands near a red cloth and palm leaf decorations. On the right, a bare-chested man in a white turban and white dhoti stands with palms pressed together in anjali. A seated figure in a red turban and white and red garlanded robes sits on an ornate golden throne at the right edge, with a rudraksha-style necklace visible on the standing priest. Several people are visible in the scene.A festive shrine scene at night with a golden ornate canopy draped in orange and multicoloured garlands, with palm-leaf decorations on the pillars. Three men stand before a deity murti decorated for alankaram, with a red-and-gold kalasha and offerings in front. The man on the left wears a white turban, white dhoti and rudraksha mala and joins his palms. The man in the centre wears a white turban, white dhoti with gold border, and a rudraksha mala, with palms joined. The man on the right wears spectacles, a white turban, a white dhoti with gold border and a gold necklace, with palms joined in greeting. A fourth figure in a red turban and white garland-draped clothing sits to the right near a golden seat. A deity murti is adorned with a golden crown and garlands, and a red-cloth covered table holds offerings.A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a decorated shrine. A large fire burns in front of an elaborately decorated deity murti set against a golden-yellow and colourful garlanded backdrop, with a kumkum-marked idol-like form at centre. Two priests in white dhotis flank the fire: one on the left holds an offering and wears a rudraksha mala, and one on the right stands with palms joined in namaskar, wearing a white turban, white dhoti and bare chest with beaded necklaces. A figure in a red turban and red garment sits on a red-and-gold throne-like seat, draped with garlands in green, red, yellow and white. Green palm-leaf torans frame the fire, and a brass lamp and a garlanded offering sit near the flames.A photograph of a decorated temple-style hall during a fire ritual. A large bright fire blazes in a central homa pit, with palm-leaf poles wrapped in green and white on either side. Behind the fire stands an ornate golden-framed shrine with garlands and a deity murti. On the right, a figure in an ornate gold chair with a red and white cushion sits behind the flames. Three men in white dhotis and white head cloths stand around the fire: one on the left with folded hands, one in the center holding garlands and a flower-decorated item, and one on the right holding a tray with red cloth. A flower-garlanded object lies on the low platform in front of the fire.