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A photograph inside a temple shrine during a homa. On the left, a bare-chested male priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth holds a string or thread up with both hands, with a gold necklace and a rudraksha-style mala around his neck. Behind him is a gold-carved pillar and green palm-leaf decorations. At the centre is a tiered altar with three elaborately decorated deity murtis draped in red, green, yellow and white garlands and sashes, flanked by banana or plantain-style decorations, brass pots filled with flowers, and yellow marigold garlands. Coloured bunting in red, yellow, purple and white hangs above. A fire pit with visible flames burns in the foreground. Only one physical person is visible.

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A photograph of a ritual scene in front of a decorated shrine. A bare-chested man in a white head cloth and white dhoti holds a yellow thread between his hands and wears a heavy beaded necklace with a large gold pendant. Behind him, a shrine with a golden arched canopy holds three seated deity murtis adorned with garlands, bright silk and jewelled ornaments, flanked by kalasha pots with yellow cloth and marigold garlands. Colourful festoons hang above, palm-leaf pillars frame the scene, and a fire burns in the foreground.Photograph of a temple shrine during a homa ritual. A fire burns in a pit in the foreground, with a small offering arranged in flowers at its edge. Behind it stand several decorated deity murtis, with a large central figure in a red and gold setting, flanked by others draped in white and multicolored garlands, with yellow and green accents. Tall palm-leaf posts frame the shrine, and a brass lamp and vessels sit on the floor. A priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth stands at left, facing the shrine. At right, a seated person in a red head cloth and garlands of white and multicolored flowers sits near the shrine.A photograph of a temple ritual at night. Two tall flames rise from a fire pit in front of a decorated shrine with several deity murtis dressed in colourful garments and garlands, framed by yellow and red flower festoons. A shirtless man in a white dhoti with gold borders and a yellow turban holds a brass plate, wearing a gold chain and a beaded mala. Palm fronds and a carved golden pillar frame the scene, and a small decorated figure with green leaves and white flowers sits in the foreground. The setting suggests a homa or fire ritual.A temple interior during a homa ritual at KAILASA Hyderabad. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border holds a lit oil lamp in both hands; he wears a rudraksha mala and a gold necklace, with white sacred markings on his arms. Behind him stands a second priest in white and gold. Center right, a small sacred fire burns on a yellow-draped altar in front of a decorated deity murti, with garlands of white flowers and green leaves around it. The murti is backed by a golden arch, palm leaf stalks and colourful garlands. On the right, a man in a red turban and a multicoloured garland sits on a golden throne beside the altar. Brass lamps and offerings surround the scene.A ritual fire burns in the foreground before a decorated shrine with three deity murtis in the centre and sides, adorned with white flower garlands bordered in red, green and yellow, and gold crowns. A man on the right wears a white turban and white dhoti, with a beaded mala necklace, and stands with palms pressed together in namaskar. Above the shrine hang rows of marigold-style garlands in purple, orange and white. Tall palm-leaf decorations and brass lamps frame the scene, with offerings of fruit and flowers at the left, consistent with a homa or devi puja setting.A photograph of a homa ritual at a temple shrine. Two priests stand at left: the one on the far left is bare-chested with a yellow turban and gold chains, holding a silver tray draped in red cloth; the second wears a white turban, white dhoti and a rudraksha-style bead necklace. In the centre a sacred fire burns in a fire pit before a decorated shrine with multiple deity murtis adorned with yellow and marigold garlands, backed by a gold and orange canopy with flower festoons. Brass lamps and offerings sit on the altar. Bright red and orange patterned cloth panels frame the scene.A shirtless priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth holds a brass bowl with two white coconuts at a decorated shrine. He wears a long gold-bead necklace and a red thread on his wrist. Behind him stand several deity murti adorned with garlands, yellow and red flowers, and striped festoon garlands. A tall green palm-leaf decoration stands at right, and a fire pit or lit area with yellow flowers lies in front. A seated figure in a red head cloth and white-and-green garland appears at right. Ritual setting consistent with a navaratri homa preparation.A photograph of a temple puja inside a decorated shrine. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold-bordered edges and white head cloths stand at a fire pit; the priest on the right, wearing a gold-trimmed turban and a white beaded garland, holds a brass plate of offerings. Behind them, colourful tiered deity murtis with gold crowns and garlands of marigolds and red flowers are set on a red cloth-covered platform. Palm fronds frame the scene, and a purple cloth-wrapped object garlanded with white flowers and green leaves lies on a yellow cloth in the foreground. Painted red, yellow and white pillars, a gold throne and brass lamps surround the space.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 priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth with a saffron border stands at right beside a bunch of ripe yellow bananas tied to a pillar. His bare chest bears white ash markings and he wears a rudraksha mala. Behind him, an ornate deity murti in red and gold draped attire sits on a decorated altar with floral garlands, multicoloured bunting, and small brass vessels with flowers. Palm fronds frame the pillars, and a small flame burns at the base of the altar. +1 copiesA photograph of a fire ritual at a temple-style altar. Two bare-chested men in white dhoti with gold borders stand at left; the nearer one holds a red cloth-covered offering plate with folded palms raised, and both wear white and gold-bead garlands and white marks on their bodies. In the centre a large fire blazes in a pit, with a metal vessel and offerings at its base. Behind it, three ornately decorated deity murtis in gold and white stand before a yellow canopy, adorned with flower garlands in green, yellow and red. A tall brass pillar and green palm leaves frame 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.