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A figure in orange ochre robes pours water from a brass vessel over a shivalingam-style base at the centre of a stone-pillared shrine. Behind, two large painted deity murtis stand adorned with marigold garlands, silver crowns and jewelled necklaces; one wears white and red with a crescent-topped crown and trident. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha vessel sit at the edges, and flower petals rest on the wet floor.

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A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night beneath a stone portico. A man with long, loose dark hair wears an orange-red dhoti with a bare upper body and bends forward, pouring water from a silver vessel over a black Shivalingam on a pedestal. Behind him stand two large metallic deity murtis, one with a crown and red headband and the other with a silver crown, both garlanded with yellow and red flowers and wearing white and red garments. A small figure of a seated deity sits at the front of the pedestal. A second man in a peach-coloured dhoti with gold necklaces stands at the left edge. Water flows across the stone floor and brass vessels sit at the lower left. a person candidate with long hair, orange cloth and bare chest pouring water in the abhishekam; appearance-based identity is probable but the face is not clearly visible.2007-02-16Night-time photograph inside a pillared temple hall during Shivaratri. A bare-chested man in a long orange cloth stands at a black Shiva lingam on a stone base, pouring or touching it, with his back to the camera. Behind the lingam stand two large painted deity murtis, one with a crown and a red headband and white garland, the other with a tall crown and a red-and-green garment and yellow flower garlands. To the left a man in peach-orange robes with red borders and a gold chain holds a metal pot. Brass lamps and a small shrine with a figure stand at the lower right. The man in orange is an unnamed priest; no identity is asserted from appearance.2007-02-16A photograph of an abhishekam at a temple shrine at night. A priest in orange ochre robes and long hair pours water over a black stone lingam on a base, while the water flows from a bronze kalasha. Behind is a pair of metal deity murtis in silver and gold crowns, wearing red and green garments and garlands of yellow and red flowers. A second man in orange robes bends at the lower right beside a brass pot, and another figure in pale clothes stands at the left holding a silver vessel. Carved grey stone pillars frame the scene, and a brass oil lamp stands at the right.2007-02-16February 16 20072007-02-16A night-time ritual at a stone temple pavilion. Two figures in saffron-orange cloth stand at left; one holds a silver vessel. In the centre, a shirtless man with long dark hair, wrapped in an orange dhoti, bends forward to offer something at the base of a large deity murti of a seated god and goddess. The murti wear crowns, white and red garments, and marigold garlands. A brass oil lamp stands at the right edge, and a small silver shrine sits in front. Several white-clad devotees are visible at the far left edge. Wet floor reflects the lights.2007-02-16February 16 20072007-02-16Night-time abhishekam at a temple shrine. A bare-backed priest in an orange dhoti pours water over a black Shivalingam set on a pedestal before two large seated deity murtis, one wearing a white garment and red headband and the other in red and green robes with yellow-and-red garlands. Another orange-clad man in the lower left holds a hose spraying water, and a third orange-robed figure kneels at the lower right beside a small gold-framed deity image and a brass kalasha-style vessel. Brass oil lamps stand at the sides.2007-02-16February 16 20072007-02-16February 16 20072007-02-16A figure in a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl leans forward to anoint a shivalinga-style stone with white powder or ash. Behind the stone sits a silver-and-gold murti of Shiva and Parvati, adorned with red and yellow marigold garlands, crowns, and jewelry, seated on a golden pedestal above a black stone base. A second person in orange stands at the left edge. The setting is a stone temple pavilion at night, consistent with Shivaratri worship. The figure's clothing and long swept hair are visible, but the figure's identity cannot be confirmed from appearance, so the role is given as a devotee performing abhishekam.2007-02-16February 16 20072007-02-16A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night inside a stone-pillared shrine. A devotee with a bare chest and an orange-red cloth draped over his shoulders pours liquid over a black stone shivalinga at the base of a large metallic deity murti of Shiva and Parvati seated together, adorned with flower garlands, pearl-like necklaces and a crown. Smoke fills the air, and a brass oil lamp stands at the left. On the left edge, a figure in saffron/orange robes stands near a tray of yellow and white flowers. The scene is wet from the ritual water.2007-02-16