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A photograph of a temple shrine decorated for a deity alankaram. Several deity murti are dressed in red, green and gold garments and adorned with garlands of yellow marigolds, red flowers and white and multicolour beaded flower strands. Brass kalasha-style pots with mango leaves and yellow turmeric-coloured cones stand on a red cloth-covered altar, with a brass oil lamp in the foreground. On the right, a seated devotee in white dhoti and cloth wrap sits with folded hands in front of a large golden throne-like seat with an elephant motif, which holds a garlanded portrait figure wearing a pink turban and white and red floral garlands. A wooden pillar and orange and white banners frame the scene. Hindu puja setting, with the seated figure shown from behind.

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A priest with a shaved-looking head under a white and orange turban, bare-chested with a white dhoti, holds a lamp aloft near a decorated altar. He wears a dark rudraksha-style mala and white sacred markings on his torso and arms. Before him stands a red-draped table with brass vessels, mango leaves, marigold and red flower garlands, and yellow-powdered kalasha pots. Behind the table, a deity murti in green and red silk with elaborate silver ornaments and a yellow-garlanded face is visible, flanked by colourful striped cloth and palm fronds. The setting appears to be a temple pavilion during a devi alankaram ritual.A bare-chested man kneels with palms pressed together in namaskar before a decorated deity murti during a ritual at a temple pavilion. He wears a white turban and a white dhoti, with a dark bead garland around his neck. The deity is adorned with yellow and red flower garlands and ornaments, and in front of it stand brass pots, a brass bell, small dishes and kalasha-style vessels decorated with yellow and orange cloth and green leaves, set on a red cloth. Striped colourful pillars, palms and a golden carved pillar frame the scene, with a stone ledge at the lower right.A photograph inside an open pavilion with bamboo pillars and tropical plants visible outside. A man in a bare-chested state with a white and orange-striped head cloth and a dark rudraksha mala around his neck is seated at a red-draped altar, holding a lamp or offering toward a row of decorated deity murtis. The murtis wear colourful garments, gold and silver ornaments and flower garlands. The altar holds brass bowls, a kalasha-style pot wrapped in leaves, yellow turmeric-coloured offerings, red flowers, and a brass lamp. Bright striped and patterned fabric hangs on the pillars. This appears to be a puja or alankaram ritual.Photograph of a Navaratri devi alankaram at a temple shrine. Three decorated deity murtis stand on a red-draped altar, one central goddess in red and gold sari with crown and silver-gold jewelled chest ornament, flanked by others; each is adorned with large garlands in red, yellow, green and white, with kalasha-style pots and flower arrangements in front. In the foreground left, a bare-backed priest in white dhoti with a cream shawl draped over his shoulders faces the altar. On the right, a smiling person in a maroon turban, rudraksha mala and white-and-red garland stands beside a golden carved pillar and a large green palm-leaf decoration.A bare-backed priest in a white dhoti and a cream-and-gold head cloth sits cross-legged on a red cloth, seen from behind, performing a puja. Before him is an altar with a deity murti flanked by golden figures, garlanded with yellow and red flower strands, and an orange drape hangs at the centre. A framed photograph in the upper left, labelled as a portrait, shows a man with a flower garland. Brass and steel bowls of food, fruit, flowers and sweets surround him on the floor, with small oil lamps set on tiered stands to the left.A temple ritual scene under a yellow canopy with purple, red and white garlands hanging above. On the left, a bare-chested priest with a white head wrap, rudraksha mala beads and white markings on his arms and chest holds his hand raised in a gesture. Behind him, two decorated deity murtis in red, green and white garlands stand on a red-draped table with kalasha pots and fruit offerings. On the right, a woman in a red head covering and a white-and-green garland sits on an ornate gold chair beside a gold pillar, with palm-leaf decorations framing the scene.A priest seated on a red cloth with his back to the camera performs a puja before deity murtis decorated with flower garlands. He is bare-chested, wears a white dhoti and a cream-coloured head cloth, and has a sacred thread over his shoulder. Around him are brass bowls and plates of food offerings, fruit, flowers and betel leaves. A framed portrait with a flower garland sits on a small shrine at the upper left, and an orange cloth hangs on the left. Oil lamp stands and a gold-and-red silk backdrop complete the setting.A decorated shrine pavilion with golden carved arches, orange and striped drapery, and tall palm-leaf columns frames a row of painted deity murtis with crowns and garlands, set on a red-draped altar with flower-filled brass vessels. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti sits facing the altar, holding a fan-like whisk. At right, a large painted portrait of a smiling man wears a red turban, rudraksha mala and a multicoloured garland over white clothing, and is seated on an ornate golden throne. Painted pillars with elephant and floral motifs flank the scene.Photograph of a festive ritual setting in a temple-style hall with a gold-framed backdrop and orange draped cloth. Three deity murtis, richly decorated with garlands, sit on a red-draped altar in front of a tiered arrangement of flowers and brass lamps. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left, facing the altar. At right, a seated person wearing a red turban, a rudraksha-style mala, and a multicoloured garland with white floral strands sits on a gold throne. A tall green palm-leaf decoration stands beside the throne, and a fire pit with clay walls appears in the foreground with brass vessels nearby.A decorated shrine with a seated deity murti dressed in a red sari and silver-toned jewelled ornaments, flanked by garlands of red, yellow, white and green flowers and a second deity figure behind. A bare-backed priest in white dhoti with a yellow-fringed shawl over his head sits at the left, facing the deity. On the right a smiling man in a red turban and red garment holds a large garland of red, yellow and white flowers. Green palm-leaf decorations, a gold-trimmed pillar and a painted panel with blue elephant and floral motifs frame the scene, with brass pots and a red offering table in front.A temple-style shrine tableau with a golden-yellow canopy and draped cloth. Central deity murti in red and green garments stands before a row of smaller figures, backed by a large arch decorated with rainbow-coloured ribbons and white flower garlands. In front, a rectangular homa fire pit lined with yellow paste holds burnt logs and ash, with a brass vessel beside it. On the left, a priest in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala holds a small oil lamp. On the right, a seated figure in a red turban and a bright multicolour garland of white, yellow, green and red flowers sits on a carved golden throne with a red cushion, beside a palm-leaf screen and decorated pillars.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.