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Wide view of an open-sided pavilion where rows of women in white saris sit on mats before lit brass oil lamps (vilakku) arranged along the aisle, a traditional vilakku pooja. Colourful rangoli kolam floor designs in pink, blue, green and orange decorate the ground between the rows. At the far end, a decorated deity murti sits on a raised shrine platform garlanded with marigolds and flowers, with a priest in white seated before it. Ritual brass pots and fruit offerings are set on the platform. Red and orange bunting hangs across the ceiling and tall striped decorative pillars line the sides. A man in white stands with a camera near the platform, and a few people in orange and white clothing stand at the front.

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December 31 20062006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31Evening vilakku pooja under a open-sided tent. Rows of seated devotees, mostly women in white saris with orange borders, face a raised shrine holding a colourful deity murti, possibly a goddess, with a priest in white at its base. Many brass oil lamps stand on the floor in front of the rows, with rangoli patterns between them. Rows of clay pots with offerings sit before the shrine. Orange and white triangular bunting hangs above, and tall decorated pillars stand at the sides. A man in white and an orange-clad figure stand nearby.2006-12-31A large open-sided pavilion at dusk where rows of women in white and pastel saris sit on the floor with palms pressed together in prayer before rows of small oil lamps lined along a central aisle. Decorative rangoli patterns are drawn on the ground between the rows. At the far end, a deity murti decorated with garlands stands on an elevated altar, with a priest in white near it. Striped decorative poles and orange bunting hang from the roof, and a large colourful deity image is displayed at the left side of the hall. Several men in white shirts stand near the edges. This is a vilakku pooja, a lamp offering ceremony.2006-12-31A photograph taken inside a large open tent-like pavilion with a metal truss roof, where rows of seated devotees face a central raised shrine. Rows of brass oil lamps (vilakku) are lit along the aisle, and colourful rangoli floor designs in red, pink, green and white decorate the ground, with scattered flower petals. At the far end, a deity murti decorated with garlands sits beneath a shrine canopy, flanked by orange and red bunting and tall decorative pillars; a priest in white sits before it. Many people are seated in white clothing on both sides of the aisle. The scene suggests a lamp-lighting worship ceremony.2006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31A photograph of a dim, open-sided pavilion during an evening vilakku pooja. Dozens of devotees sit in rows on the floor, many women in white and cream saris and men in white shirts, several with palms pressed together in prayer. In the foreground, women hold brass oil lamps and arrange lit lamps on leaf-like plates. Along the floor in front of a raised shrine, rows of small clay lamps glow. At the far right, a deity murti is decorated with gold and orange drapery beneath a canopy, with priests in white standing nearby. Striped cylindrical banners in red, blue and orange hang from the roof, and strings of small orange flags run across the ceiling. Rangoli patterns are visible on the ground.2006-12-31Photograph of a large covered hall at night where many women in white and cream saris sit on the floor in rows, hands pressed together in prayer. Rows of small brass oil lamps line the floor in front of them, and a few women in orange-bordered saris sit near the foreground with lamps. Tall cylindrical pillars painted with red, blue and yellow floral and geometric patterns stand along the walls and at right. Colourful rangoli designs decorate the floor, and a decorated deity murti stands with garlands at the far end of the hall. Strings of small triangular flags hang from the roof.2006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31