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A photograph of an outdoor puja at a temple courtyard. In the left foreground a young shaven-headed priest in an orange-red dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha mala and white sacred ash markings, sits cross-legged holding a brass plate of white grains. Before him a rectangular stone fire pit burns with an open flame, surrounded by brass vessels and a ladle. Behind the fire, a raised platform draped in red cloth with green borders holds four decorated deity murti figures dressed in saris of red, green and maroon with garlands and ornaments. Steps with red and white bands lead up toward a small shrine with a red backdrop and a canopy above.

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A photograph of an outdoor homa at a temple-like shrine. A young priest with a shaved head, white tilak marks, rudraksha beads and an orange-red cloth sits cross-legged at left, holding a tray of white grains and offerings. In front of him a square stone fire pit burns with a bright flame. Behind the fire, on a draped red and green cloth platform with stepped white and red-striped stairs, stand several figures in embroidered green, teal and maroon garments with garlands. Brass vessels and a kalasha sit around the fire pit. A canopy and small shrine stand in the background.2014-07-26A homa fire burns in a square stone pit in the foreground, with brass vessels and a bowl of white grains beside it. A shaved-headed young person in orange robes with white marks on the forehead sits cross-legged at left, wearing rudraksha beads, and holds a dish. Behind them, a raised platform draped in red cloth with green borders supports several deity murtis dressed in green, maroon and red garments with ornaments and garlands. A figure in orange robes stands on a stage beneath a canopy in the background. Stone steps with red and white bands lead up to the platform.2014-07-26July 26 20142014-07-26A shaven-headed priest in an orange-red dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged at the left, holding a silver bowl of white grains or rice and pouring it into a brass vessel. White tripundra markings are on his forehead and arms, with a rudraksha-style bead necklace. In front of him is a square fire pit with an open flame and brass bowls of offerings, some with red petals. Behind, on a raised platform draped in red cloth with green borders, stand several deity murtis in red and green silk garments with garlands and crowns, decorated with flowers. Steps with red and white banding frame the scene. This is a homa-style fire ritual at a temple.2014-07-26A photograph of a temple puja at an outdoor shrine. A shaved-headed young priest in orange saffron robes sits on the steps holding a brass oil lamp with a flame, offering it toward a row of decorated deity murtis dressed in colourful silk garments with ornate beaded necklaces, crowns and green leaves. A red cloth covers the platform. Another orange-robed person sits at the right edge beside a brass vessel. Trees and a white wall form the background.2014-07-26Outdoor temple scene with a row of deity murtis dressed in green, white, maroon and blue silk garments, adorned with pearl necklaces and set on a pink cloth-draped platform. In the foreground a young shaven-headed devotee in orange robes and white body markings holds a lit oil lamp, flame and smoke rising, beside a second orange-robed figure seen from behind with a brass bowl. Trees and a light sky frame the background, and small offerings with flowers sit on the steps.2014-07-26A homa is performed in front of several garlanded deity murtis on decorated altars. A young priest with a shaved head, wearing white dhoti and shawl with gold borders, sits cross-legged at a brick-lined fire pit and pours offerings from a steel vessel into the flames. Brass kalashas with mango leaves and coconuts line the altars, and yellow turmeric and marigold garlands decorate the deities. Pink, turquoise and orange cloths cover the platforms, and a few other ritual items sit on the floor in front.2010-12-23September 09 20132013-09-09Outdoor Hindu ritual at a homa fire pit in front of a decorated deity murti. A priest in white dhoti and a cream head wrap, with bare upper body and bead bracelets, leans over the square fire pit, holding a silver plate near the flames while offering items from steel bowls. Behind the fire, a garlanded deity murti with a flower-covered shrine and kalasha-style vessels sits on a red-draped platform. Several devotees in saffron-orange robes with white body markings sit on mats around the fire, one with hands folded in prayer. Stepped white and red-striped walls and palm trees frame the open courtyard.2013-09-09Outdoor ritual at a deity shrine decorated with a multicolour flower garland and marigold offerings. A fire pit in the foreground holds burning embers and a metal spoon. A priest in a white dhoti and yellow head wrap raises a bundle of sticks toward the flames while a shaved-headed man in orange robes sits to the left. On the right, a woman in an orange sari with folded hands sits on a mat, and a young boy in the lower left presses his palms together. Marigold garlands and yellow flowers decorate the stepped platform in front of the deity murti. Trees and a construction site appear in the background.2013-09-09September 30 20142014-09-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a temple courtyard. A priest in a maroon dhoti with a gold-bordered cloth sits cross-legged at a low stone platform, feeding dry leaves and offerings into a blazing fire pit. Steel bowls, a ladle and a plate of fruit sit around him. Behind the fire, a table draped in white and yellow cloth holds rows of brass pots topped with orange flowers. Two dark stone deity figures in garlands stand on either side, and a bright decorated shrine is visible further back. The priest's face is turned away from the camera, and no reliable appearance cues establish his identity.2013-06-22 +1 copies