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Photo of a temple shrine during a Mahashivaratri puja at Bengaluru Aadheenam. Ornate stone pillars frame a sanctum with deity murtis draped in garlands of orange and yellow flowers. A central figure wears a dark tall headdress, an orange-and-white garland of marigolds, and white ceremonial cloth, standing before a raised platform while assistants in saffron and orange clothing attend him. Nearby, a priest in white with a red shawl and a shaved head holds a ritual vessel. Devotees in red and maroon saris and dhotis surround the shrine, some with white forehead markings. A brass pot sits at the left edge of the platform, and red offerings lie on the stone.

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March 07 20162016-03-07A photograph of a ritual at a shrine with stone pillars and carved reliefs. At the centre, a figure with a tall dark swept-back hairstyle and a white forehead band wears a red-and-brown garment and a long garland of red and yellow flowers, holding a silver tray or vessel. Behind, men in saffron-orange dhotis and white-marked bodies attend a large deity murti with decorated garlands and a silver backdrop. Devotees in red, maroon and white clothing crowd the foreground, some with white ash marks and rudraksha beads. Flower petals and offerings are scattered on the floor, with a bell hanging on the left side.2016-03-07A temple shrine interior with a golden-lit stone doorway and carved pillars. In the centre, a figure in an ornate black turban and a red-and-gold garment with a yellow marigold garland and a heavy ornamental necklace stands before a shrine altar, with hands extended toward a silver vessel. Behind, a deity murti with a crown and a yellow-and-white garland stands in front of a decorated arch, flanked by orange-robed attendants. Around the figure, devotees in white dhotis and red-bordered shawls with sandalwood marks on their foreheads kneel and touch the altar, while women in red saris and white garments join in. Flower petals and marigolds are scattered on the stone floor. The scene suggests a Mahashivaratri pada puja at a temple. Probable Swamiji is the turbaned central figure, identified by the black turban, the flower garland and the rudraksha-style ornamentation; appearance is consistent but not certain.2016-03-07March 07 20162016-03-07A photograph inside a small temple shrine at dusk, with stone pillars carved with figures on either side and a bell hanging at left. Ornate deity murtis of Shiva and Parvati stand behind a dense arch of marigold and yellow flower garlands. In front, a central figure with a tall black swept-back hair crown, a gold ceremonial necklace, a yellow-and-green flower garland, and a dark reddish-brown shawl stands at a stone platform, the tall stone abhishekam area, with his hands raised in a ritual action. Around him, devotees in white dhotis and orange-saffron robes with white tilaka marks, plus women in saris, gather closely. Several attendants in saffron and orange robes stand behind, one holding a metal kalasha vessel, while a metal pot and offerings sit on the platform. This appears to be a puja or abhishekam at the shrine, with devotees pressing forward.2016-03-07March 07 20162016-03-07Photograph of a temple shrine at dusk during a Mahashivaratri puja, with a large carved stone shrine and a dark deity murti behind a sanctum. A central figure wearing a tall black turban-style headdress, red-and-gold garlands and a red-and-white robe stands before the altar, with hands extended toward the shrine's lingam-style offerings. Behind, another man in saffron-orange robes and a bare-torso adornment attends the altar, and two more deity murtis are garlanded in marigold and red flowers. Devotees crowd the foreground: a woman in a red sari, a man in white with a long braid-like plait nearby, and a man in a saffron shawl with a rudraksha mala. Ornate stone pillars frame the scene and the sky is pale with evening light.2016-03-07A photograph inside a stone-pillared shrine with a deity murti and decorated altar, where a central figure in a red-and-gold garment, wearing a large black-and-gold turban, a gold necklace and a yellow-orange flower garland, sits on the altar area smiling. Behind him, a shrine with a mandala-like arch of marigold and yellow garlands frames three murtis, including a seated figure. Around him, devotees wear rudraksha malas and red-orange clothing, with white forehead markings; a woman in blue-green and a child stand nearby, and an older man in white dhoti stands with bare back. Flower offerings, a plate and a small bowl sit on the floor, indicating a puja or padapuja setting. Seven people are visible in the frame, including partly visible ones at the edges.2016-03-07Photograph inside a stone temple shrine at dusk, with a seated central figure in a red-and-gold garment and a large garland of yellow and orange flowers draped over the shoulders, wearing a tall dark ornate headdress and a gold necklace. He sits before a deity murti with a golden face and crown, framed by a colourful floral arch of marigolds and garlands. Around him, several people in saffron, orange and red clothes with white forehead markings and ash-smeared faces stand and kneel, one in an orange robe holding a bell, others with white dhotis and bare upper bodies, plus a woman in red with a rudraksha mala. Fruit offerings and a brass vessel sit on the ground, and a crowd of devotees gathers in the foreground.2016-03-07A photograph of a temple shrine interior during a devotional ritual. Stone pillars carved with figures frame the scene. Behind, a deity murti is decorated with bright marigold and yellow flower garlands and a red cloth, set on a raised platform. In the centre, a woman in a red-and-gold sari wears a large dark ceremonial headdress and a red-and-gold garland, smiling as she stands before the shrine. A person in a red sari with a white face-paint marking and a rudraksha mala stands at right beside other devotees. Around them, people in white dhotis, orange cloth and red sashes press in, some touching the shrine. The image shows a Pratyakshya Pada Puja style devotional gathering at the Mahashivaratri event in Bengaluru.2016-03-07A photograph inside a temple shrine at a ritual event. A seated central figure in a dark turban, red garment and layered gold necklaces wears a flower garland of red, yellow and white blooms and has white markings on the forehead. Before him stands a shrine with deity murti and a canopy of garlands in red, yellow and white. A man in an orange dhoti and orange shawl reaches up toward the shrine, while people in white dhotis and red-and-gold saris, some with white paste on their faces and rudraksha malas, stand around the platform. Bananas and offerings lie on the stone base. Strings of marigold garlands hang around the carved stone pillars.2016-03-07March 07 20162016-03-07