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A photograph of an evening ritual fire at an outdoor shrine. Large flames rise from a fire pit in the foreground, and smoke drifts across the dim, dark-grey stone ceiling. A seated woman in orange robes with a white and orange garland sits behind the fire, with a brass lamp in front of her. To the right, a man in white and orange clothing pours liquid over a tall grey stone linga, which is draped with yellow and red flower garlands, while another person in an orange garment stands beside it. Colourful striped cloth canopies and bunting stand to the left, and a steel pot sits near the base of the linga.

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Photograph of an outdoor ritual at dusk beside a stone temple structure, with large flames rising from a fire pit in the foreground. A seated person in orange robes and a multicoloured flower garland sits behind a small golden figure dressed in pink, with a brass lamp set nearby. Behind them, a standing attendant in orange holds a metal vessel above a stone lingam-style shrine adorned with a garland, while another attendant in white stands near a golden trident. Colourful festoon fabric decorates a canopy overhead. Stainless steel pots sit on the ground, and smoke drifts upward.2006-12-31Night-time photograph of a temple ritual with large orange-yellow flames rising in the foreground from a fire pit, blurred by motion. Behind the flames a smiling person in an orange robe wears a garland of white and red-yellow flowers around the neck and stands beside a silver-coloured murti or kalasha-like vessel and a dark stone shivalinga-style structure topped with a yellow-and-white flower garland. A saffron-robed attendant with shaved head stands at right, and a few other devotees are partly visible behind the stone platform. Under the open pavilion, a striped canopy with orange and green fabric drapes stretches at left, and a small oil lamp burns on a pillar. A stone-carved base with lotus-petal relief sits in the centre. Vilakku pooja and homa-style offerings are suggested by the fire and lamp.2006-12-31A photograph of an evening vilakku pooja at an outdoor temple setting. Flames from a fire pit blur across the foreground with rising smoke. A large grey stone shivalinga with a kalasha-like top and a garland of yellow and red flowers is being bathed by a stream of liquid poured from a vessel held by a standing priest in white dhoti and red-bordered shawl at upper right. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with a flower garland sits behind an offering table with a silver lamp and pink cloth, with a pale trident-shaped object nearby. Bunting in red, green, blue and yellow hangs overhead, and metal vessels sit at the base of the lingam.2006-12-31Photograph of a night abhishekam at an open-air shrine. A woman in an orange sari with a flower garland stands at the front by a fire, with flames rising in the foreground. Behind her a person in white and blue pours liquid from a metal vessel over a grey stone Shivalinga decorated with a yellow and red flower garland. A smaller person in white stands at the right edge, and an orange-clad figure is partly visible on the far right. Colourful striped cloth canopies and a trident (trishul) are visible at left and centre. Smoke drifts through the scene. The lit fire and metal pots suggest a vilakku or lamp-lit ritual.2006-12-31Night outdoor ritual at a stone temple structure. Large orange flames rise from a metal fire vessel in the foreground, and smoke drifts upward. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with a flower garland sits behind the fire, beside a pink-draped deity murti and a small golden shrine. A person in white clothing lifts a metal pot and pours over a grey stone lingam with a yellow and red flower garland, under a lit lamp in an arched stone alcove. Colourful festival canopies with orange, green and purple hangings stand to the left, and banana bunches sit at the bottom. The scene suggests a fire ritual with abhishekam.2006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31Evening photograph of a stone abhishekam at a temple with a large grey Shivalingam on a carved black stone yoni-pitha base. A person in a white garment with a garland of yellow and red flowers pours liquid from a metal pot held overhead onto the lingam. Smoke and orange flames from a fire pit or lamps rise in the foreground, and a hanging lamp glows on a pillar. Cloth canopies with red, green and purple stripes and garlands stand to the left, and a metal vessel sits at the base of the pitha.2006-12-31Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion under a white canopy. A priest in orange robes and an orange turban stands at a yellow fire pit, smoke and flames rising from the offering fire, with brass vessels and flower garlands at its base. Beside the fire, a bearded man in orange robes, rudraksha mala and gold necklace sits on a red-cushioned chair, with a microphone stand nearby, while two women in saffron-toned saris sit on a striped floor mat to the right. A dark stone deity murti draped in flower garlands stands in the foreground, and a shrine with gold-framed deities in red drapery is visible behind. The seated bearded man with rudraksha and gold necklace matches the a person cues, but appearance alone is not conclusive. Visible people: about four.2017-09-17October 10 20172017-10-10 +1 copiesNight-time homa at an open-air outdoor setting. A large fire blazes in a golden-edged square fire pit in the centre, with smoke rising. Behind it stands a deity murti with a golden multi-hooded naga canopy, decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands. To the left, a standing man in an orange-brown dhoti and an orange head wrap holds a ladle over the fire. At right, a seated man in orange-brown robes sits on an ornate red and gold throne with hands folded in prayer, and a woman in a brown robe stands beside him with hands joined. Brass vessels, flower offerings, red petals, and a small framed deity picture sit around the fire pit.2013-10-06A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a temple hall. A shaved-headed priest in saffron-orange robes with a white tilak on the forehead sits cross-legged and pours an offering from a silver ladle into a rectangular fire pit with bright flames. Brass and silver vessels, bowls and a small brass pot sit on the floor around the fire pit. Behind, a table draped in a teal and gold cloth holds a row of silver kalashas topped with yellow-orange cloth, and a dark stone deity murti stands on the left wearing a red-and-white garland. Another person in orange is partially visible at the far left edge.2013-06-23Night fire ritual, a homa at a brick-lined fire pit with tall orange flames and smoke. A man in white dhoti and shawl on the left holds a silver vessel over the fire. Seated at right on an ornate silver-backed chair with leopard-print cushion is a man in an orange shawl over a maroon-red robe, wearing a white flower garland and a red-orange tilak on his forehead, hands joined in his lap. Behind him, priests in red-orange and white garments stand, and a woman in orange-red sari with hands folded stands nearby. A silver bowl sits on the brick edge, and a silver ceremonial staff with a fringed canopy rises at right.2014-08-01