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Photograph of a festival setting with two large decorated statues dressed in garlands of white jasmine, yellow marigold and red flowers. The statue on the right wears an orange turban and ornate gold-and-embroidered attire, with one hand raised. Beside them stands a smaller figure wrapped in purple and gold cloth, adorned with white flowers. In front lies a brass oil lamp with a lit flame on a wooden stand, with a red and gold embroidered cloth draped over a low table behind. Green carpet covers the stage floor, and a few people in white and casual clothes move in the background, with plastic chairs and tables visible. These are statues and deity murti, not living people.

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February 02 20162016-02-02February 02 20162016-02-02Temple interior during a puja before a deity murti seated on a golden throne, adorned with multicolour garlands of red, yellow, white and green flowers and gold jewellery. A priest in a red-brown dhoti and a red headwrap with a rudraksha mala holds his hands together in namaskar at left. Another attendant in a red dhoti holds a brass plate with a lit oil lamp, and a standing deity figure with a red crown and garland stands beside the seated murti. A trident-like ceremonial staff and a brass pillar lamp are at right. The area is dimly lit with warm lamplight.2014-12-05A photograph of a temple ritual in progress. On the left, a priest in an orange-brown garment stands at a fire pit, holding a lit lamp toward a small shrine. In the centre, a figure in white ritual clothing with a white turban presses palms together in prayer before a flower-decorated golden throne. On the right, a man in white dhoti and shawl with a white turban and folded hands stands beside a richly adorned deity murti seated on a golden throne with a crown and gold ornaments. Both thrones are heaped with garlands of red, yellow and white flowers, with green and purple drapes. Flower petals and orange cloth lie on the marble floor, and a painted backdrop shows red and orange pillars.2012-04-23 +2 copiesOctober 18 20152015-10-18A photograph of a temple worship scene at night. A man in a rust-red turban and dark red-brown striped garment, with a red garland around his neck, holds a lit oil lamp aarti toward a decorated deity murti. Behind him stands a second man in a white-and-gold headdress and dhoti, holding a silver tray. The deity murti is draped in long garlands of yellow, red, pink and white flowers and heavy gold jewellery, with a green-stoned ornament at its centre. Beside it sit two gold-coloured divine figures on a red-draped throne, one wearing a red turban-crown. A tall black lamp stand and brass vessels sit in front, with flower offerings on the floor.2014-12-05Photograph of a temple-style ritual in a hall with a gold-framed arch backdrop and dark red curtain. Two standing figures in the foreground: a man in a white dhoti and white head cloth holding a brass bowl with a red garland around his neck, and a man in a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl with a yellow-and-white garland, holding a ritual object, with his head bowed or face turned toward the altar. Behind them, large deity murtis wearing red, orange, purple and white flower garlands and gold crowns and jewellery are seated on ornate golden thrones draped with a gold brocade cloth. A pink cloth covers a seat in the middle. Rose petals are scattered on the floor, with a brass oil lamp and banana leaves with fruit in the lower left.2015-01-09Photo of a temple-style ritual hall with a red-draped platform holding three gold-and-silver deity murtis (metal icons) adorned with thick yellow and orange marigold garlands and jeweled necklaces. Behind a blue-covered table with gold jewelry, a priest in an orange-red turban and white dhoti works at offerings. Two seated attendants in orange-gold shawls sit in the foreground, one with hair in a bun. Brass oil lamps, a decorated kalasha on a tiered stand, and ceremonial umbrellas and banners surround the setting. No clearly identifiable a person is visible; the people shown are priests and attendants.2015-07-17Photograph of a temple ritual in front of a deity murti decorated with yellow and red marigold garlands and a gold crown. Three priests in white dhotis stand before the shrine: one on the left wears an orange shawl, a red head cloth and a beaded necklace while holding a small vessel; a central priest wears a green turban and green-bordered cloth; a third, partly turned away, wears a gold-coloured turban and an orange-yellow shawl. Brass oil lamps stand at right and the altar is draped in red and garlanded.2016-02-02A photograph of a temple-style festival setting under a tent-like canopy. Two deity murtis are seated on a red-draped platform, adorned with heavy gold ornaments, crowns and thick garlands of yellow and orange marigolds. Beside them stands a tall ornate kalasha-style pedestal decorated with flower garlands and a small deity figure. On the left, a man in white dhoti and saffron-coloured head covering bends forward over a table laden with flowers and offerings. A few other people are seated in the background, and a golden ceremonial umbrella hangs above.2015-07-17A decorated deity murti of a goddess stands on an orange-draped altar, adorned with white and yellow flower garlands and red blossoms, a jeweled crown, gold ornaments and a red and gold sari. A man in an orange dhoti with gold border and a rudraksha mala stands at right, holding a lit oil lamp toward the murti during aarti. Brass oil lamps and small offering bowls sit on the floor in front, and an ornate gold arch frames the altar. Background shows a white wall and a faint silhouette portrait.2016-10-10A photograph of a Meenakshi Tirukalyanam ceremony on a stage. On the left, a golden arched throne holds decorated murti figures of a deity couple, garlanded with white, yellow and red flowers, and a small figure stands beside them. In the centre, a second garlanded pair of murti figures sits on a magenta-draped platform before a gold arch. A standing man on the right wears a white turban and white garland, a red dhoti and gold bangles, and points toward the murtis. Petals are scattered on the black floor.2015-04-30