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A photograph of an indoor night-time shrine with a large Durga murti in front of a white lace-style backdrop, showing a ten-armed goddess astride a lion beside a figure of Ganesha and smaller deity figures. A standing man with long dark hair wears a maroon dhoti and shawl with gold trim, a rudraksha-style garland of beads, and stands barefoot before a white ritual platform holding offerings and brass vessels. To the right an empty red and gold throne chair with orange cushions sits on a white cloth. A seated priest in white and a man in orange robes sit in the background beside a printed poster. Oil lamps, fruit and a kalasha sit on the platform. Identity of the standing man is not established by appearance alone, so he is described by role only.

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Night photo of a ritual at a temple shrine. A large multi-armed goddess murti with a lion mount stands at centre beneath a silver-fringed umbrella canopy, flanked by smaller deity statues, brass oil lamps and a lit lamp at left. In the foreground a seated person in a red garment with gold border and orange shawl sits on a red and gold throne chair with hands joined in namaskar, while a second person in red kneels beside the chair with hands folded. Marigold garlands, fruit offerings and a white cloth cover the floor.2010-10-11 +1 copiesNight-time puja before a large decorated deity murti of a goddess seated on a lion, with multiple arms and a crown, set in an ornate white floral arch under a fringed canopy. Smaller murtis of Ganesha and other deities flank her, with brass oil lamps lit on either side. In the foreground a shaven-headed priest in white dhoti, bare-chested with a rudraksha mala, sits at a white abhishekam platform with brass vessels and offerings of bananas, mangoes and coconuts. A second priest in white kneels in the background. On the right, a person in a red and gold sari sits in a gilded red throne-like chair. Multiple people are present but only a few are clearly visible.2010-10-11A night-time ritual scene at an outdoor temple pavilion. A standing figure with long dark hair wears a red-maroon dhoti and a gold-bordered shawl over a bare upper body, with a long beaded necklace and ornaments, gesturing with one hand toward a fire pit. A seated priest in white dhoti and white top on the left presses his palms together in prayer beside a white stone homa platform holding a dark fire pit and brass vessels with flowers. Behind, a large deity murti with multiple arms holding weapons is garlanded with white and orange flowers, flanked by smaller figures. A red velvet chair with gold trim stands empty on the right. Trays of fruit, lemons, flowers, coconuts and vegetables are arranged in front. Overhead, decorative hanging tassels and leafy garlands surround the canopy.2010-10-11October 11 20102010-10-11Night ritual in an open hall with a fire pit and offerings. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and white upper cloth sits at left beside a small flame and brass vessels, performing a homa. Behind a white marble platform with a dark central pit stands a large decorated deity murti with a golden crown and ornate white arch, flanked by additional painted figures and a lion beneath. Brass oil lamps stand on the platform. Fruit, coconuts and plates of offerings are arranged in the foreground. At right, a person in red-and-gold dress sits on an ornate red and gold throne-like chair beside another seated priest in white. Hanging striped cloth panels decorate the walls.2010-10-11 +1 copiesA man stands at left beside a large white-and-red clay deity murti of Durga, shown with multiple arms holding weapons and seated on a lion, flanked by smaller figures of deities including Ganesha in pink and gold. The man is bare-chested with a rust-red dhoti and orange sash, wears a long multi-strand gold necklace and a white floral garland with orange and blue accents, and has white tilak on his forehead with hair tied back. The deity sits on a red cloth-draped platform with steps, under a corrugated roof at night, with a golden kalasha-style vessel nearby.2014-09-30A night-time ritual photograph at an open-air ashram pavilion with a fire pit (homa/yagna) set in a white marble platform. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl sits at left with palms joined in prayer, beside a brass kalasha and offerings of flowers, fruit, coconuts and vegetables. At centre, a man in a deep maroon garment with a gold-bordered shawl and beaded necklace stands with one arm extended over the fire, the smoke rising behind him. A red and gold throne stands to the right, and a second white-clad priest sits in the background near the fire. Behind them are ornate deity murtis with a multi-armed goddess figure, garlanded and decorated with white lace backdrops, and striped tassel decorations hang overhead.2010-10-11October 11 20102010-10-11A night-time puja held under a thatched canopy hung with mango leaves and tassels. At the centre, a large deity murti with many arms stands on a decorated platform, flanked by smaller murtis and white floral arches. In front, a priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha mala, tends a flame near a fire pit and brass lamps. A seated figure in a red-and-gold chair, wearing a dark dress, sits in the right-centre; a man in saffron robes sits on the floor beside a folded-hands devotee in saffron at the far right. Trays of fruit, sweets, coconuts and offerings cover the white cloth in the foreground. The scene shows a homa-style ritual with offerings.2010-10-11Night-time outdoor puja before a large clay murti of Goddess Durga with multiple raised arms, weapons and a lion mount, decorated with white lace-like backdrop and a white umbrella. In the foreground a figure with long dark hair wears a deep red wrap with gold-bordered edge, standing before brass oil lamps and offerings of flowers, marigold garlands and kalasha-like vessels. To the right an ornate red and gold throne stands empty; beside it a man in orange robes and an older man in white dhoti and shawl stand near the edge. Hanging bamboo decorations and a bright floodlight complete the setting.2010-10-11A night-time homa ritual before a deity murti of a multi-armed goddess, shown with a lion mount and several attendant figures. A priest with a bare shaved head, wearing a white dhoti and a gold necklace, sits on the left beside a small fire burning in a metal pit. In front of the murti are a large white square altar, brass oil lamps, and trays of fruit, coconuts and vegetables spread across a white cloth. On the right, a seated person in an orange-trimmed red garment sits in a red cushioned chair with a gilded armrest. Ornate white floral backdrops, decorative umbrellas and a red-and-gold canopy frame the scene.2010-10-11October 11 20102010-10-11 +1 copies