Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night-time puja before a large white and silver decorated deity murti of a multi-armed goddess with a red-and-gold face, dark hair, a crown and yellow marigold garlands draped on her body. On the left, a priest in an orange saffron dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala holds a long ceremonial pole. On the right, a man in white ritual cloth with a gold border holds a silver tray of offerings. A painted backdrop of red and blue panels shows figures behind the murti.

More like this

Open the gallery
October 03 20112011-10-03A photo of a night puja before a large white shell-decorated deity murti of Goddess Durga or Kali, with many arms and a golden face. A priest in an orange saffron cloth and dark hair in a bun stands at left, touching the idol's face with his hand and holding a ritual implement. Yellow marigold garlands hang from the idol and a silver tray of offerings sits in front. A man in white with shaved head stands at right holding the tray. Behind the deity, a painted panel shows scenes of figures and a temple, and blurred text sits at the top of the frame.2011-10-03October 03 20112011-10-03October 03 20112011-10-03A photograph of a night ritual before a large white decorated deity murti of a goddess with a crown, many arms and a serene painted face, flanked by a fan-shaped white halo. A woman in an orange sari with her back to the camera applies a substance to the murti's forehead with her hand while holding a long metal ladle or spoon. At right, a bald man in a white dhoti with a gold-bordered shawl and beaded necklaces holds a silver tray of flowers and offerings. Garlands of yellow marigolds hang on the murti and red flowers adorn its arms. Behind, a painted backdrop shows figures in red and blue, and a banner reading TEMPLE is visible above. The scene suggests a puja or abhishekam at a temple.2011-10-03A photograph of a goddess murti in a shrine with a red draped backdrop and a white lace-like arch behind her. The multi-armed deity has yellow skin, a long black braided hair, a white and red adorned costume, and carries weapons in her raised hands, with a lion mount at her base. Two priests stand in front of the murti, both shaved-headed and bare-chested: the left one in a pink dhoti with a yellow border and a crossbody bag, pouring liquid from a silver vessel; the right one in an orange dhoti with a dark orange wrap. A brass oil lamp stands at the left edge. Two people are visible.2012-10-15October 03 20112011-10-03A priest in an orange saffron dhoti and wrap, seen from behind with his right arm raised, performs worship before a large white-and-silver deity murti with many arms, in a dimly lit temple or pandal. The deity wears a white ornate crown, yellow and orange marigold garlands, and holds implements in its hands; its face is painted yellow with red eyes and a tilak. Behind it, a decorated white arch and painted backdrop show figures in red and green. A person in white stands at the right edge holding a metal tray, and a small string of lights glows at the top. A banner with partly visible letters hangs behind.2011-10-03A bare-chested priest in an orange-saffron dhoti and wrap, wearing a rudraksha-style bead mala and white tilak on his forehead, touches the forehead of a large yellow-faced Kali-style deity murti with raised arms, long black hair and a white lace-like backdrop. A second assistant in pink-orange cloth holds a silver pot or vessel with grass at the left edge. The background is a red draped cloth. Behind the deity, a smaller white-and-yellow figure is visible.2012-10-15October 03 20112011-10-03October 03 20112011-10-03A photograph of a night-time puja before an ornate Devi murti decorated with white silver-foil work, yellow and white marigold garlands and a red backdrop with string lights. The goddess holds a sword and other weapons and rides a lion, while a green-faced figure with a club is shown beneath her. On the left, a person in saffron-orange robes and a white flower garland lifts a hand, and in the centre another person in orange sannyasi-style cloth raises a long brush. On the right, a shaven-headed man in white dhoti and shawl with gold borders holds a brass tray of offerings. Brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, marigold petals, and small oil lamps sit on the altar in front.2011-10-03