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A photograph of a temple ritual in a shrine room. A shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a gold border stands at left, pouring water from a vessel in a stream of liquid across an altar. Behind him stand several large carved wooden figures decorated with flower garlands, including a central figure in a red turban wearing a rudraksha mala and ornate gold necklaces, a figure with a trident, and a figure in a red-and-white turban. Brass oil lamps and kalasha vessels sit on the altar with a red and green cloth. Seated devotees in gold chairs watch: a woman in a pale green outfit, a bald man in a dark suit, and a woman in orange robes at right. Ornate golden arches frame the scene. This appears to be an abhishekam.

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KAILASA LOS ANGELES, USA on 12/22/20202020-12-22KAILASA LOS ANGELES, USA on 3/1/20222022-03-01A priest with a shaved head and bare upper body, wearing a white dhoti with gold border and a sacred thread, performs puja at a temple altar. He raises a feathered fan or chamara above the deities. Several golden-framed deity murtis stand on a raised gold platform, adorned with garlands of orange and yellow flowers and jewelled crowns. Oil lamps sit before them, and tall decorated kalasha-style columns rise behind. A black stone form on the left is also garlanded. The setting is a temple hall with a red curtain backdrop.2022-02-04A shaved-headed, bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and sacred thread raises a lit oil lamp toward a golden shrine at a temple altar. Behind him stands a golden deity murti of a multi-armed goddess in red and gold garments with a crown, flanked by two standing golden attendant figures in red robes and tall turbans. In the centre foreground, a black Shiva lingam wrapped in a red-and-white draped cloth and marigold and rose garlands sits before the figures. Brass oil lamps and kalasha-style offerings surround the altar, with a green-and-gold cloth and red-and-orange silk drapes framing the scene and colourful painted pillars on either side. Decorative garlands in green, yellow and white hang on the figures, and small offerings sit on the platform in front.2024-07-09Photograph inside a gold-decorated temple shrine. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a striped sash and a light headwrap faces the altar, holding a brass lamp in his right hand. The central deity murti is a red-robed goddess with multiple arms, seated and wearing a red crown, surrounded by yellow and orange marigold garlands. In front stands a black Shivalinga-style stone lingam draped with orange and yellow flower garlands and a rudraksha mala. On the right, a red-draped table holds a pink-and-gold Ganesha murti. A small black Nandi figure is in the foreground. Gold-painted arches, golden curtains and niches frame the shrine. The priest performs a puja with an oil lamp.2025-05-09A photograph of a shaved-headed, bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and sacred thread, raising a white fan or chamara over a decorated altar. The central deity murti is a seated golden figure with a red turban, ornate jewellery and a crown-like headdress, flanked by a second golden figure in a crown and jewelled necklaces. Two standing sage statues in red and saffron robes, with rudraksha malas and gold necklaces, stand on either side. The black Shiva linga at the base is dressed in a red cloth and garlands of red, yellow and white flowers, with brass oil lamps and a small offering vessel in front. Red curtains and a decorated arch frame the scene.2024-07-09A shirtless priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth stands on a yellow platform, raising his right arm toward an elaborate shrine. The shrine holds several deity murtis with gold arches, red drapes and flower garlands, including a standing figure on the left and a seated figure on the right in a red and blue skirt. Central figures are decorated with ornaments and garlands. Brass lamps and ritual vessels sit on the altar, and a framed portrait above the shrine shows a man in red with the inscription 'Tat Tvam Asi'. Colourful striped pillars frame the back wall.A priest with a bare upper body and white dhoti, seen from behind at left, performs aarti with a lit oil lamp before a shrine of deity murtis. Central seated murti wears a yellow headdress, white and maroon drapery, red and yellow marigold garlands and gold ornaments on a throne-like seat. Standing figures flank the shrine: at left a figure in white and gold with a crown and garlands, at right a bearded figure in a red turban, rudraksha-style beads and yellow garland. Behind them a red curtain and ornate silver-and-gold backdrop. Small white and gold figurines sit on pedestals at the front. Ritual shrine worship in a temple setting.2021-01-26A priest with a bare upper body and white sacred marks on his arms performs aarti with a lit flame before a decorated shrine. Behind the shrine stand several gilded murtis draped in flower garlands, including a central figure holding a trident and a figure in a pink sari, with a bearded figure on the right in a dark red robe. A linga-like form in the centre is adorned with flowers and jewelry, and a small silver-bordered lamp sits on the altar. Red curtains frame the scene.2021-01-05A photograph of a temple shrine with gold-framed backdrop and red drapes. In the foreground, a priest in orange dhoti and shawl with white sacred markings on his arms stands at left, holding a lit lamp toward the shrine. Central deity murti, adorned with a red cloth, a rudraksha-style garland, yellow and white flower garlands and a silver necklace, sits on a red-draped platform with brass oil lamps in front. Behind it, metal murtis of a pair with crowns and pink and red garments stand before ornate jeweled arches. At right, a bearded metal figure with a maroon turban, layered beaded necklaces and a yellow marigold garland stands beside a small figure in a maroon sari. No readable text is visible. Physical people count is one: the priest.2021-01-16A bare-chested priest in white dhoti, with a sacred thread and white ash markings on his arms, performs a ritual before a sanctum of deity murtis. He holds a brass lamp-like vessel toward the shrine. Central seated murti wears a red-and-white garland of marigolds and white flowers, with a decorated peetha and ornate jewelry. Flanking figures include a sage with a long beard and rudraksha malas, a figure in a yellow and red dhoti, and a figure with a turban and saffron-orange cloth. A large gold arched backdrop, red curtains and brass oil lamps surround the shrine.2020-12-21KAILASA LOS ANGELES, USA on 2/8/20222022-02-08