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Night photograph of a ritual aarti with oil lamps. On the left, a shaved-headed priest in a red-orange sash and rudraksha mala holds a woven basket tray of lit oil lamps. In the centre, a woman in a red turban and red sari with a floral garland holds a small flame near a bowl. On the right, a man in an ornate jeweled crown and gold-trimmed red-orange dhoti and rudraksha mala lifts a lamp from the tray. Behind them, people in white dhotis and a dark night setting are visible, with a bright light in the background. The scene is an oil-lamp ritual, with no visible identifiable a person figure.

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Night-time ritual photograph in which three priests stand before a basket of oil lamps with flames. The man on the left, bare-chested with a shaved head and a red-orange cloth, wears a rudraksha mala and looks down at the lamps. The central figure wears a red and gold turban, a red and orange garland, gold necklaces and a saffron-orange shawl, and holds a lit lamp. The man on the right wears an ornate silver-and-red-jewelled cylindrical crown, bare-chested with a rudraksha mala and beaded bangles, and holds a lamp toward the flames. Behind them stand several onlookers, a bright floodlight and a red canopy with fringed cloth. Multiple oil lamps burn in a woven basket in the foreground.2014-12-05Night outdoor ritual photo. Two devotees in red and orange attire hold a woven basket of lit oil lamps between them. The left figure wears a red turban, red flower and bead garlands, white flowers, and gold bangles, and holds a flame. The right figure wears a tall, ornately beaded and sequined crown, multiple red and gold rudraksha-style malas, and a golden sash. A bald priest in orange robes stands behind them, and a golden deity murti with garlands is visible at left. Trees and onlookers fill the dark background.2014-12-05Night ritual aarti outdoors under a canopy with colourful tasselled fabric. In the foreground a person in an orange-red turban, red and white flower garlands and a gold ornamental necklace holds a lit oil lamp flame in cupped hands. Beside them a man in a tall silver-and-black embellished crown and red rudraksha malas holds a woven basket of lit oil lamps. Behind them, men in white dhotis and saffron-coloured garments hold more offering baskets and lamps, with a golden trident visible at right. Several onlookers stand in the background.2014-12-05Night-time ritual at an outdoor shrine lit by flames. A woman in an orange-red headwrap and red-and-white flower garlands holds a lit oil lamp, while a bald priest with a red forehead mark and orange-saffron shawl stands behind. In front, a bare-chested man in an ornate silver-and-gold crown and layered rudraksha-style beaded necklaces holds a woven basket of lit oil lamps, with several clay lamps burning. A gilded deity murti and garlanded shrine stand in the background, with a camera operator at the right edge.2014-12-05December 05 20142014-12-05Night outdoor ritual photograph. Two people stand close together holding a woven basket tray with lit oil lamps (diyas) in red-rimmed dishes and flames rising. The figure on the left wears a red turban, red and white flower garlands, a bindi and gold bangles, with a red-and-orange shawl. The figure on the right wears a tall black cap with silver-and-red embellishment, a red beaded mala, gold necklaces and a golden shawl, with white markings on the arms and forehead. A third man in a red-orange garment and beaded necklaces stands behind them. In the background a golden deity murti of a standing figure is framed by a decorated arch with garlands, and a man in white and other devotees stand near a metal railing.2014-12-05Night-time photograph of a ritual offering. In the foreground, a woman in a red turban, red flower garland and gold necklace holds a flame over a woven basket of oil lamps, while a young man in an ornate silver-and-black crown, red-orange garments, rudraksha beads and white forehead markings lifts the basket with her. Behind them a bald man in saffron-orange robes watches. Left background shows a golden deity murti on a decorated purple and white canopy, with a man in white and a few other devotees standing nearby, under dark trees.2014-12-05Night outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with hanging aerial roots. A man in a tall ornate silver-and-red embroidered headdress and rust-red robe holds a tray of lit oil lamps toward a woman in a red turban and red-and-orange robe with red and white flower garlands and gold necklaces, who extends her hands over the flames. To the right, a man in a white dhoti with gold border and a yellow-and-white turban holds a shallow tray and wears beaded necklaces, while other attendees in red-orange robes stand behind. The scene suggests an aarti with oil lamps and flower garlands.2014-12-05Night ritual scene under a decorated canopy with fringed hangings. In the foreground a priest in a tall silver-embellished crown and bare torso, wearing gold-coloured dhoti and layered beaded necklaces, holds a woven basket tray with lit flames. Opposite him a smiling woman in a red turban and red-and-white flower garlands holds a small oil lamp toward the flame. Behind them white-clad men with rudraksha malas and sacred markings chant and watch. A deity murti is not visible. A pink cloth covers a table at left, and woven baskets sit nearby.2014-12-05December 05 20142014-12-05Night ritual aarti with a woven wicker tray holding several lit oil lamps and flames. Two priests in saffron-maroon garments with gold borders hold the tray together. The left priest is bald with white tilak on his forehead, wears a rudraksha mala and bangles. The right priest wears an ornate embroidered conical cap, a rudraksha mala and bangles. Behind them a woman in a red head covering and gold ornaments with a red-and-white garland stands smiling under a red and gold canopy with fringe. Other people stand in the dim background.2014-12-05Night ritual outdoors under a canopy of coloured cloth streamers. A central figure in a rust-red turban and dark red wrap, wearing a red-and-white flower garland, holds a woven basket of burning flame at the centre. Beside them a man in white with a saffron-coloured turban and glasses tends the fire, and another man in a tall ornate gold-patterned cap and red-brown wrap steadies the basket with a gold-trimmed cloth. Several other attendants in orange and white garments stand around. The flame suggests an oil lamp or sacred fire ritual; a brass vessel and stone wall are visible.2014-12-05