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A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold-coloured sash and a gold bead necklace pours white powder from a silver bowl onto a dark stone shivalingam on a black pedestal, a white marble figure of a standing devotee in the lower foreground. Behind are a gold-embossed panel, blue satin drapery, red and yellow flowers and a silver-and-gold deity murti with a trident. The act resembles abhishekam or a ritual dusting of the lingam with powder.

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September 13 20112011-09-13September 13 20112011-09-13A photograph of a shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti and white shawl, wearing a gold necklace and a gold bangle, pouring white powder from a silver plate onto a dark stone shivalingam set on a black pedestal. Behind the lingam stands a large golden deity murti adorned with red roses, yellow marigold garlands and jewelled ornaments. A small white marble statue of a standing figure in a white headcloth is in the lower left foreground. The priest is performing abhishekam-style ritual offering with powder.2011-09-13September 13 20112011-09-13September 13 20112011-09-13September 13 20112011-09-13Two shaved-headed priests in white dhotis and shawls, with white ash markings on their arms and chests and gold beaded necklaces, perform a ritual at a black stone shivalinga on a dark stone yoni-peetha. The priest on the left holds a silver bowl while the priest in the center, who wears glasses, pours or places an offering onto the linga. Behind them a seated deity murti in red and gold garments, adorned with marigold and red rose garlands, sits on a throne. A white marble seated figure with a raised hand stands in front of the peetha. Orange and blue draped fabric and carved stone pillars form the backdrop.2011-09-13September 13 20112011-09-13A photograph inside a temple shrine showing a bald man in an orange-red saffron dhoti and shawl standing at the right, lifting his hands near a large brass plate or mirror behind a black Shivalingam coated with white paste. Milk or abhishekam liquid mist rises around the lingam on a dark stone pedestal. Behind it stands a deity murti decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands and gold ornaments, and a golden kalasha-like finial rises at right. On the left, a golden statue of a standing sage with hands folded in namaskar, and at lower right a white stone statue of a seated figure in a turban with hands folded, both flanking the shrine.2011-03-03A priest with bare upper body and white dhoti with gold border pours a thick milky mixture from a silver vessel over a black stone shivalingam on a black base. Offerings with bits of fruit and nuts fall around the lingam. He wears a gold beaded necklace with a small pendant. Behind is a deity murti with a jewelled face, red and yellow rose and marigold garlands, and a red patterned cloth. A gold-embossed panel and turquoise drape frame the scene. This is an abhishekam to a shivalingam.2011-09-13A photograph of a shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti and white upper cloth, with gold beads around his neck and white ash marks on his arms, pouring milk from a silver-grey coconut-shell vessel onto a black stone shivalingam set on a golden base. Behind him a deity murti is adorned with red and yellow flower garlands and a red-and-gold sari, with a gold-framed backdrop and blue curtain. A second person in white stands partly visible at the left edge. This is abhishekam ritual worship.2011-09-13November 28 20142014-11-28