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A photograph of a temple ritual in which a man with a bare upper torso and red-brown dhoti stands at left, wearing a red-brown head wrap, rudraksha malas, bangles and gold ear ornaments, while pouring or applying white powder onto a large white conical stone lingam with a flat circular top. Beside it, an ornate deity murti is adorned with jewelled, gold and crystal ornaments and a red-brown silk garment. Green and red floral garlands hang in the background. A second person in red-brown clothing assists at left. The white powder is in motion around the lingam.

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February 24 20172017-02-24A ritual abhishekam in a temple setting: a man with long dreadlocked hair, a rust-red headband, and a rust-red draped cloth over bare shoulders pours a white substance from a large round silver vessel over a deity murti. The murti is adorned with gold jewellery, jewelled necklaces, and a rust and gold brocade garment. Garlands of yellow and red flowers frame the scene, and a brass oil lamp with a lit flame sits in the lower right. Another attendant in rust-red stands beside the murti, and a devotee's head is visible in the foreground.2017-02-24A photo of a ritual abhishekam at night. A figure with long dark hair wrapped in a rust-red turban and rust-red cloth, with rudraksha beads on the arm, pours white powder from a large golden ceremonial plate onto a white heap at the base of a deity murti. The murti wears gold ornaments and an embellished red-and-gold sari-style garment; gold hands and jewelled armlets are visible. Behind is a backdrop of colourful flower garlands in yellow, red, and green. The figure's identity cannot be confirmed from appearance, so they are described by role as the officiating priest.2017-02-24A figure with long dark locks, a saffron-orange wrap and bare upper back stands at left, pouring white powder over a shivalinga-like stone at a dark pedestal. The figure wears a coral-red headband, and bracelets on the raised arm. Behind, a deity murti in gold ornaments, jewelled crown and maroon-gold silk stands beside a garlanded altar draped with yellow, white and red flowers. A small oil lamp flame is visible at lower right. Powder covers the base of the lingam in a heap. The setting suggests an abhishekam with flowers and lamps.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A ritual photograph of a white-coated linga or Shiva murti being anointed with white powder poured from a round silver plate. A bare-chested priest in a rust-red dhoti and wrap, with rudraksha malas and beaded bracelets, pours from the left while a second priest in an orange-red cloth stands beside him. To the right, a figure in an ornate gold-and-red brocade costume with jewelled shoulder pieces and a gold belt holds the plate. A lit oil lamp sits at the lower right and the background is decorated with flower garlands.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at a Shiva lingam, with white powder or substance being poured over the stone form. A man stands at left with long dark braided hair under a rust-red turban, wearing a rust-red wrap, gold armband and beaded bracelets, his arm extended over the lingam. At right, a figure in a pink-and-gold embellished garment with heavy crystal-studded jewelled ornaments and a gold armlet stands beside the lingam. Behind them are golden hands, a glittering deity murti and floral garlands, with a small oil lamp flame at lower right.2017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at night. A bare-chested man with long dark hair, a red-orange cloth draped over his shoulders and a red-orange head wrap, wearing rudraksha bracelets, pours white powder over a stone linga. Behind him a large deity murti in gold and bejewelled red-and-gold silk garments is decorated with jewelled ornaments and garlands. A brass plate of white powder sits at left, and an oil lamp glows at the lower right edge.2017-02-24