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A photograph of an abhishekam being performed on a white marble murti seated in meditation. A man in an orange saffron shawl draped over his head and shoulders, wearing long multi-strand gold bead necklaces and white sacred ash marks on his forehead and arms, pours water from a brass kalasha onto the statue, sending splashes into the air. Behind him, a second figure in orange stands near a man in white dhoti with a yellow sash, who is bent forward. Dark night background with a tent-like structure at right. a person by appearance cues (long swept hair, saffron clothing, gold malas, ceremonial adornment) performing the ritual pouring; he is the central in-person figure.

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December 16 20092009-12-16A man in an orange-saffron shawl draped over his head and body pours water from a brass kalasha over a white marble seated deity murti during abhishekam at night. He wears multiple strands of gold beaded necklaces and white tilak markings on his forehead and arms. To his left, a young man in white dhoti and orange shawl holds a tray of offerings, and another young man in white kurta with a yellow sash stands nearby. Water streams down onto the marble figure's raised hand, and a dark stone yoni-style base appears at right.2009-12-16A temple abhishekam in progress: a man in an orange-saffron shawl and a long gold-bead mala pours water from a brass kalasha vessel over a white stone deity murti seated in a kneeling pose. Water splashes around the murti onto a wet stone floor. Two young men in white dhoti-style clothes stand behind; the left one holds a silver plate and wears an orange scarf and gold-bead garland, the other wears a yellow sash and gold-bead garland. Stone pillars frame the dark temple hall, with a black stone basin at the right edge.2009-12-16A photograph of an abhishekam at a temple. A man in an orange saffron shawl and a heavy gold necklace pours water from a polished brass kalasha over a dark stone shivalingam, water splashing around its base. He has white vibhuti on his forehead with a red kumkum dot and white markings on his arms. Behind him stands a bearded man in orange robes and gold beads, and to the left a younger man in white clothing with orange shawl holds a silver plate. The pouring man has distinctive long swept-back hair and ornate gold adornments, matching appearance cues for a person performing the ritual.2009-12-16December 16 20092009-12-16December 16 20092009-12-16A photograph of an abhishekam at a temple. A standing man in an orange saffron garment with an orange head cover and white vibhuti stripes on his forehead and arms pours water from a gold kalasha onto a dark black stone lingam, sending water spraying. A gold chain hangs over his chest. Behind him, a second person in orange holds a gold pot and pours water, and a bearded person in orange with a gold necklace stands at left. A white stone statue of a seated figure is in the lower left foreground, and a carved stone makara-style bracket is at upper right.2009-12-16A man in orange saffron robes with long, curly dark hair and a red tilak on his forehead pours milk from a silver vessel over a white marble deity statue. He wears a gold bead mala around his neck and is smiling. Behind him, another man with long hair and a beard wears orange robes, and a further orange-clad person is partly visible at the right edge. A dark stone pedestal with lotus-petal carving sits at the right, and milk splashes across the scene. Several other people in orange robes appear in the background.2010-02-12December 16 20092009-12-16A photograph of an abhishekam at a stone shivalinga on a dark stone pedestal. A man in a saffron-orange wrap with a white vibhuti marking on his forehead and upper arm pours water from a shiny brass kalasha over the linga, which sprays in arcs. Behind him, another man in orange with a gold-beaded mala watches. A white statue is partly visible at the lower left. The water and orange cloth dominate the scene.2009-12-16A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at night. A man with long, swept-back dark hair, a red bindi and white tilak, wearing an orange saffron garment and a gold bead necklace, pours milk from a silver vessel over a white marble deity murti. Splashing liquid runs down the white statue. A second man in orange robes with a beard stands behind him, and other orange-clad devotees are partly visible at the right and left edges. A dark stone basin or pedestal is in the foreground right.2010-02-12December 16 20092009-12-16