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A temple priest seen from behind, wearing an orange-red dhoti with a sacred thread and a rudraksha mala at the neck, with white sacred ash markings on the back, offers a plate with a small brass lamp and offerings to a black stone deity murti. The murti wears a silver crown, a tilak, a silver and jewelled necklace, a green-and-gold-lined garland, and a red and gold silk dhoti with a purple border. A smaller bronze deity figure stands in front on a yellow cloth. A brass bell, conch shell, bowl of offerings and a standing brass oil lamp sit on the altar, set against an ornate gold arched frame. The timestamp reads Jun 27, 2024 11:52:31 AM.

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A photograph of a temple ritual in which a priest with a bare back and white markings on the skin, wearing an orange cloth wrapped around the lower body, holds a brass lamp with a lit flame toward a black stone murti of Vishnu standing in a gold arched niche. The murti wears a silver crown, a white vertical tilak on the forehead, layered gold and jewelled necklaces, a long green and teal bead garland, a red and gold brocade dhoti and a purple-edged cloth draped over the shoulder. Two small gold figures stand at its base, and a brass lamp stands at the right. The scene is an aarti offering in a temple sanctum, with a timestamp reading Jun 28, 2024 11:46:14 AM at the bottom.2024-06-28A photograph inside a temple shrine showing a priest in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl, with white ash markings on his arms and chest and a rudraksha mala around his neck, holding a brass lamp with a lit flame and standing before a large black stone deity murti of Vishnu with four arms, a white urdhva pundra on the forehead, a crown and jeweled garlands, dressed in a pink and gold garment. A smaller brass figure in blue cloth and red-bead necklace stands at the base, with a brass bell, conch shell, brass lamp stand, and a small bowl of offerings beside it. The golden arched frame and green backdrop surround the altar.2024-04-07A young priest in an orange dhoti with a gold border and an orange shawl stands with his back to the camera, holding a brass tray with a lit oil lamp and a small brass cup, making an offering before a large black stone deity murti. The standing murti wears a tall silver crown, layered jewelled necklaces, and a white flower garland, with a green and magenta silk cloth behind it inside an ornate gold-framed arch. A smaller gold-crowned metal figure in a purple cloth stands in front on a yellow brocade cloth, with a brass bowl, a conch shell and a tall brass oil lamp (deepam) nearby. The priest wears a rudraksha mala and white sacred ash markings on his arms and back. This appears to be a puja and aarti at a temple shrine.2024-06-13A photograph inside a temple shrine showing a young male priest seen from behind, bare-backed, wearing an orange dhoti with gold-bordered edges and an orange shawl over the shoulder, with white tilak markings on his arm, holding a lit oil lamp toward a black stone deity murti of a standing four-armed Vishnu form. The deity wears a tall jewelled crown, a white and gold tilak, layered gold and jewelled necklaces, a red garment, and is decorated with white jasmine garlands and green leaves. Before the deity sits a small brass kalasha and a conch shell on a red cloth, with a tall brass lamp stand at right and an ornate gold arch framing the shrine. A timestamp reading Jul 10, 2024 4:24:51 AM appears in the lower right corner.2024-09-07A young priest in an orange dhoti and orange shoulder cloth, with a rudraksha-style mala and white ash marks on his arms, stands at left holding a brass tray with small brass cups and a spoon as an offering. Before him stands a black stone deity murti of a four-armed form with a tall jeweled crown, a white urdhva tilaka on the forehead, a pink silk garment, and layered gold and green-stone necklaces, set within a gilded arched niche with a lime-green backdrop. A small brass utsava murti in a blue cloth sits at the base beside brass oil lamps, a brass bell and a conch, with a brass bowl of offering in front.2024-03-07A photograph of a temple shrine with a black stone deity murti standing in a golden arched niche, adorned with a silver crown, jewelled necklaces, a pink silk garment and a silver waist ornament, framed by yellow and orange marigold garlands. In the foreground a young priest with a shaved-looking head and bare back wears an orange dhoti and shawl and holds a brass plate with a lit oil lamp, performing aarti. Brass pots, a brass bowl with offerings and scattered pink petals sit at the base of the shrine.2024-06-29A bare-chested priest in an orange dhoti and orange shawl pours water from a gold kalasha over a large black stone deity murti, performing abhishekam. The murti stands in a gold-framed niche with carved gold arch and gold-leaf ceiling, and a smaller bronze deity figure stands at its base. The priest has long dark hair and a rudraksha-style string around his neck; no face is clearly identifiable as a person candidate.2024-10-26A photograph inside a temple shrine of a black stone deity murti seated in front of a gold arched prabhavali, wearing a red and gold silk sari, a crown, pearl garlands and a vertical tilak. A priest in an orange dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with white ash markings on his arms and shoulders, holds a brass plate with a lit oil lamp or aarti toward the deity. Brass oil lamps stand on either side below, and a row of carved black stone bulls or nandi-like figures lies at the base. The image carries a timestamp of Jun 28, 2024 11:45:49 AM in the lower right.2024-06-28A photograph inside a shrine showing a shirtless young priest in an orange dhoti and orange upper cloth pouring water from a golden vessel over a black stone deity murti. The murti has multiple arms and a tall crown, and stands within an ornate gold-leaf arch with carved foliage and a gold ceiling. A small bronze standing deity figure stands in front of the black murti. The scene appears to be an abhishekam ritual bathing the deity.2024-10-26A photograph inside a temple shrine. In the foreground, a young boy with short dark hair and bare upper body, wearing an orange cloth wrap, faces away from the camera while holding a lit oil lamp (deepam) toward a large black stone deity murti with a trident (trishula) in one hand, a purple turban, a red and gold garment, and a garland of white and red flowers. The murti stands before a gold arched backdrop. Tall brass lamp stands with multiple oil lamps flank the scene, along with red and yellow canopy umbrellas with white bird emblems and a golden figure of a female devotee at the right edge. A maroon curtain hangs behind. Lit lamp and aarti ritual in progress.2024-09-11A photograph inside a temple shrine. A standing priest with a bare upper body and an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl, seen from behind, holds a brass plate with a lit oil lamp toward a large black stone murti of a standing deity. The deity wears a purple and gold turban, a red-maroon draped garment, layered garlands of white and orange flowers, and holds a trident-like staff in one hand while the other is raised in blessing. Golden ornate arch and canopy frame the murti, with ornate brass oil lamp stands (deepas) on either side and red and gold ceremonial banners with white bird motifs hanging behind. A brass figure stands at the right edge. The scene depicts a puja with aarti.2024-11-01A photograph inside a shrine where a bare-chested young priest in orange-red dhoti and shawl, with white sacred markings on his upper body, stands with his back to the camera holding a lit oil lamp toward a large black statue. The statue wears a red turban with a gold ornament, layered gold and rudraksha necklaces, and a red draped cloth. It sits within an ornate gold arch, flanked by tall brass lamp stands and red-and-gold canopy banners with floral and bird motifs, and a brass figure stands at the lower right. The scene is a deity murti puja with an aarti lamp offering.2024-11-28