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A photograph of a temple courtyard during a ritual. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes and a red-and-white flower garland sits on a carved wooden chair with a shaped backrest, behind a low table laden with bananas, oranges, apples, pomegranates and other fruit, plus a brass lamp, metal bowls and a pink-wrapped object. Around them, people in white clothes and dhotis stand and sit beneath tall pillars and a striped cloth canopy in purple, orange, green and white. A drummer in a yellow costume with a tall headdress plays a drum, a performer in red and green stands nearby, and a golden trident is mounted on a pillar at right. Several people wear white, and the setting appears to be a festive temple ceremony.

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December 31 20062006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31Photograph of a shrine ritual under a decorated canopy with colourful striped fabric and triangular bunting. A large silver-grey Shivalinga stands on a stone base wreathed in white and yellow flowers while a woman in a cream sari and red bindi pours liquid from a metal pot over it, an abhishekam. Behind the lingam, a man in an orange robe with a red and yellow flower garland sits on a raised seat before a tray of fruit, brass lamps and a metal vessel, appearing to be a person figure with long hair and saffron clothing. Around him, many men in white dhotis and shirts sit or stand, some with rudraksha malas, with a trident mounted on a pillar at right. Fruit offerings of bananas, oranges, apples and pomegranates are arranged in the foreground.2006-12-31December 31 20062006-12-31Outdoor abhishekam at a stone Shiva lingam on a grey stone base under a striped festoon canopy. A man in saffron-orange robe with a rudraksha mala and a white-and-red flower garland sits cross-legged beside the lingam, with a brass plate of fruit, brass lamps and vessels on a low platform. A standing priest in white dhoti pours liquid from a metal pot over the lingam, and a metal pot catches the flow below. Trishul stands at the pillar; bananas, oranges, pineapple and custard apples are arranged in front. Devotees watch in the background, some wearing white.2006-12-31Night abhishekam at an outdoor temple shrine. A person in saffron-orange robes with a long garland of red and white flowers sits on a wooden seat beside a dark stone Shivalinga being bathed with water poured from a metal vessel by a woman in white sari with a flower garland. Behind them, a crowd of men in white dhotis and shirts, some with bare upper bodies, sit or stand under a canopy with colourful striped cloth. Fruit plates, brass pots, a pink-wrapped vessel and a brass lamp sit on the floor. A decorative trident and a large white hand statue appear at right.2006-12-31A photograph of a temple abhishekam at an outdoor shrine under a canopy hung with multicoloured fringed cloth. A tall Shiva lingam stands at right, being bathed as a woman in white pours liquid from a metal vessel over it, while a flower garland hangs from it. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with a red-and-white flower garland sits behind a table laden with fruit, bananas, brass vessels and an offering plate, with a person candidate showing long dark hair and saffron clothing. Devotees in white dhotis and shirts crowd the background, and a tripod-mounted camera stands near the group. A trident hangs on the pillar at upper right, and a large metal deity hand is visible at the edge.2006-12-31Outdoor temple courtyard at dusk beside a granite pillar and corrugated metal roof, with orange and red pennant flags strung overhead. A man with short dark hair, wearing a white dhoti and an orange shawl, sits cross-legged before a puja arrangement with bananas, mango and other fruit on silver plates, a silver kalasha, brass lamps and a silver oil lamp stand. To the right, a large deity murti draped in a white cloth and wreathed in yellow, orange and magenta garlands stands beside the offerings. Two other men in orange shawls sit nearby, and a decorated ratha-style panel and trident are visible at left. The scene suggests a vilakku pooja with lamps and fruit offerings.2006-12-31Photo of a Shiva lingam abhishekam at an open-sided pavilion with striped fabric canopy. A large grey stone lingam stands on a carved yoni-shaped base, draped with white and yellow flower garlands; a woman in a red blouse and white sari pours from a small pot while another woman in a white sari holds a metal pot. A man in white and orange, with a brass trident beside him, stands at the base. Seated in front, a person in orange robes wears a red-and-white flower garland, with brass lamps, a metal vessel, and trays of bananas, oranges, apples and custard apples in front. Steel vessels catch the flowing water at the bottom, and the crowd sits behind.2006-12-31A photograph of an abhishekam at an outdoor temple pavilion under a striped canopy. A large silver-toned lingam sits on a stone yoni-peetha, with water poured over it from a metal pot held by a woman in a red patterned top. A seated figure in orange robes with a flower garland and long dark hair sits beside the lingam, and a water channel flows from the peetha. Behind them a crowd of men in white dhotis and shirts stands in the pavilion. In the foreground are trays of bananas, oranges, apples and custard apples, a brass kalasha and a small brass deity murti with a pink cloth.2006-12-31Outdoor ritual under a tent canopy hung with colourful garlands and festoons. At the centre, a long-haired figure in orange-saffron robes with a white flower garland sits cross-legged behind a low altar. Nearby, a man in white dhoti and shirt stands holding a microphone, and several white-clad and saffron-clad attendants work around the altar. The altar holds a bowl of fruit, a steel bowl of turmeric powder, small brass cups of marigold petals, a silver urn with pink flowers and a silver lamp stand. To the right, a large deity murti is dressed with marigold garlands and a red cloth. Several people stand in the background.2006-12-26December 26 20082008-12-26