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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.

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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.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 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 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 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 temple shrine at night during a homa, with a fire pit blazing in the foreground. Two priests stand on either side with palms pressed together in namaskar; the left priest holds a brass vessel, and both wear white dhotis with gold borders and beaded necklaces, one bare-chested. Behind the fire, a richly decorated deity arrangement sits under a golden arch with multiple deity murtis, adorned with flower garlands and marigold strands. Palm fronds frame the scene, and a golden-pillared hall surrounds the shrine. A small figure in a garland of white and green flowers sits before the fire pit on a red cloth.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 homa ritual in a decorated temple hall. A large fire burns in a pit at centre-front, with a kalasha-like offering and a flower-decked deity murti in red and blue behind it. Behind the fire stand three decorated deity murtis with golden crowns on a red-draped altar, flanked by bright floral and striped drapes and green palm-leaf torans. On the left, two priests in white dhotis stand with bare upper bodies and white shawls and garlands, one holding a red-cloth-covered tray with his palms joined. On the far right, a seated figure in red headwear, white and multicoloured garlands and a gold chair is shown, with a decorative golden throne behind. Four to five people are visible, including partial figures.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 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 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.Photograph of a temple ritual inside a decorated shrine hall. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders and white head cloths stand on either side of a central fire pit with flames. The priest on the left, wearing a white turban, reaches up to a tall palm-leaf pillar; the priest on the right, with a garland of white flowers and gold-trimmed cloth, holds a brass plate. Behind them is an altar with a decorated deity murti flanked by colourful festoons, golden ornaments and garlands. A pile of flowers and a decorated tiered pedestal lie in front of the fire, and a deity-themed figure wrapped in a red and blue cloth with white and green flower garlands sits in the foreground. Lamps and offerings are arranged around the sanctum.