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Two men in white dhoti with gold borders stand with palms pressed together in anjali before a decorated deity altar at night. The man on the left wears a saffron-yellow turban, a black rudraksha mala and a gold pendant; the man on the right wears a light blue-white turban, spectacles, a gold necklace and bangles. Behind them a silver-and-gold deity murti in red and green garments, with a large jewelled heart-shaped ornament and crown, sits under a golden arch hung with yellow, red, purple and white flower garlands. Flanking figures and a second small deity stand on the altar, with brass oil lamps, kalasha pots with mango leaves and a red cloth in front. Floor kolam designs in white and red surround a mud-brick yagna pit.

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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 festival shrine scene photographed indoors under a canopy of gold carved woodwork with orange and gold drapes and colourful striped bunting. At centre stands a decorated deity murti in a gold and red setting with flanking figures and flower arrangements, and two tall palm-leaf stalks frame the image. Four men stand around the shrine: at left a bearded man in white dhoti and white turban with a beaded necklace and hands folded; next, a man in a red turban and multicoloured shawl seated on a chair; then two bare-chested men in white dhotis with gold borders and white turbans, hands folded in namaskar, one wearing a rudraksha mala. A gold-and-brown palanquin or seat occupies the foreground. The arrangement suggests a navaratri alankaram display of the deity.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 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 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 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 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.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.Photograph of two shirtless men in white dhotis and white turbans with orange borders, bent forward at a shrine to deity murti of a goddess in a red-and-green sari with silver ornaments and a large silver heart-shaped necklace. Behind the murti are a gilded arched backdrop, marigold and multicoloured garlands, and brass pots with offerings. One man reaches down to a folded red and blue silk sari on the floor, apparently presenting or arranging it, as part of a devi alankaram ritual. The floor is plain yellowish stone.A night ritual photograph at a decorated shrine. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders and white turbans stand before an altar hung with yellow, orange and multicolour garlands and draped cloth. The priest on the left holds a silver plate of red offerings. The two on the right stand with hands folded in prayer, one wearing a yellow turban and a rudraksha-style bead garland. In front, a deity murti dressed in a red and cream sari sits on a platform decorated with white flower garlands, with an oil lamp burning nearby. Palm-leaf fronds stand on either side and the background shows painted floral panels.A temple shrine scene during a ritual. Three bare-chested men in white dhotis stand before a decorated deity murti in a golden shrine canopy, with garlands of marigolds and a multicoloured floral backdrop. The man at left, wearing a white turban and rudraksha-style beads, holds an object over offerings; the central man in a yellow turban and garland stands with hands folded; the man at right, in a white turban with a striped band and beaded garland, presses his palms together in anjali. Tall green palm-leaf stalks flank the shrine, and in front are trays of fruit, a yellow cloth, brass lamps and a kalasha-like vessel, consistent with a puja or homa setting.Three men in traditional South Indian ritual dress stand side by side with palms pressed together in anjali before a homa fire burning on a stone altar. The man on the left wears a yellow turban, a black rudraksha mala, gold necklaces and a white dhoti with yellow border. The man in the centre wears a white and yellow turban, a brown rudraksha mala and a white dhoti with yellow border, bare-chested. The man on the right wears a white turban with yellow stripes, gold chains, glasses and a white dhoti. Behind the fire, a decorated deity murti sits on a red throne under a golden canopy framed by palm fronds, marigold garlands and colourful striped drapes. +1 copies