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Night outdoor ritual at a huge black stone Shiva lingam with a yoni-shaped base, its top reached by a white metal staircase and garlanded with a marigold rope. A seated figure in red and gold sits on an ornate gold throne with a red cushion and a red-and-gold canopy overhead. Bare-chested priests in orange dhotis stand near the base; one pours or offers at the lingam while others sit beside brass trident-topped staffs and kalasha vessels. Thousands of seated devotees fill tiered stands under strings of lights, with orange and red flags along the wall. A deity murti or lingam-based abhishekam appears to be underway. a person candidate is a red-robed figure on the throne, appearance uncertain.

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Night photograph of a large black Shiva lingam on a tiered yoni-pitha base at an outdoor ritual ground, with a white horizontal tripundra mark and a garland of flowers around its upper section. Metal stairs climb the lingam's side toward a figure at the top. In front stands an ornate gold throne with a red cushion and a seated figure in red and orange robes; a multicoloured canopy hangs above. Gold trident-topped staffs and brass kalashas stand nearby. Several bare-chested priests in white and orange dhotis perform the ritual, one in orange at right holding an object. Seated devotees fill tiered stands behind, with red flags and lit strings of lights along the walls, under a dark sky.2016-12-08Night-time outdoor photo of a huge black stone Shiva lingam with a white horizontal tripundra band, draped with a flower garland, with a metal staircase and small figures at its top. In front, a golden ornate throne with a tiger-motif base holds a seated figure in a red cushioned seat. Ritual brass implements, trishul-style staffs and a red-draped platform surround it. Men in white dhotis attend near the left, and a seated crowd fills tiered stands on the right under decorative lights and red flags, consistent with a Rudrabhishekam ritual.2016-12-08Night-time outdoor ritual at a huge black Shiva lingam with white horizontal tripundra bands, garlanded with flowers and a red-and-white garland draped down its side. A shirtless man in an orange-brown dhoti stands on the left near a garlanded smaller stone, while a person in white bends low on the stage floor below the lingam. Atop the lingam, a figure in saffron or orange clothes stands on the upper platform. A golden ornate throne with red cushions holds a white stone or marble figure seated in meditation; brass trident-topped staffs stand beside it. A multicolour canopy hangs over the area, and a large crowd of devotees in white and coloured clothes sits in tiered seating on the right beside rows of lights and red flags. Lit stage floor draped in red cloth.2016-12-08Night photograph of a large black Shiva lingam at an outdoor ritual site, with white horizontal tripundra stripes on its face and a garland of flowers around its upper part. A person in a light pink robe sits cross-legged on a gold-and-red throne at the base, with a gold peacock-style backrest and a red cushion, under a multicoloured canopy. Priests in orange and white dhotis stand and sit around the platform, some holding ceremonial items. Tiered seating with many seated devotees fills the right side, flanked by lit string lights, red flags and a white pavilion.2016-12-08Night photograph of a large black Shiva lingam on a tiered black yoni-pitha base, decorated with a white flower garland and two horizontal white-and-gold bands. A metal staircase leads up to the top, where a figure in orange clothing stands beside a flame. In the foreground on a red-draped stage, a golden ornate throne holds a white-clad figure with a visible portrait-like face; a brass trident and brass ritual vessels flank it. A man in a white dhoti and another in a saffron-coloured cloth stand at left near a garland and metal pots. Behind, a large crowd of seated devotees fills tiered stands under strings of lights and red flags. Shiva lingam ritual scene, rudrabhishekam setting.2016-12-08Night photograph of a large black Shiva lingam on a tiered stone yoni-pitha base, decorated with white horizontal tripundra bands and a garland of flowers draped over its upper portion. A metal staircase climbs beside it to a platform where a figure stands near the top. In front, a golden ornate throne holds a white-clad figure seated under a golden arch, with a gilded trident and ceremonial vessels beside it. Two men in white dhotis and orange-red garments perform ritual work at the base of the lingam. A large crowd of seated devotees fills tiered stands at right, under strings of lights and red flags, with a colourful striped canopy above the lingam area.2016-12-08Night photograph of a huge black Shiva lingam with horizontal white tripundra bands on its shaft, set on a tiered black stone yoni-pitha base, decorated with a red-and-orange garland. A priest in orange robes stands on a metal staircase at the top of the lingam pouring offerings, and another ritual attendant in orange and a white dhoti works at the base with a flame and a kalasha pot. On the red-draped stage in front, a gold throne with a gilded halo holds a white marble-like statue of a seated sage in red. Gold trishula staves flank the throne, and a multicolour cloth canopy hangs at the right. Rows of seated devotees fill the illuminated stands behind.2016-12-08Night photograph of a large black Shiva lingam on a tiered yoni-pitha base, marked with white horizontal tripundra bands and draped with a flower garland. A figure in orange robes stands atop the lingam on a white metal staircase, pouring or offering something. On the stage below, two priests in white and orange dhotis stand near brass trishula staffs and a kalasha, one holding a flower garland. A golden ornate throne with a red cushion holds a seated white-robed figure of a deity or saint, with a small canopy above it. Crowds of devotees fill tiered seating on the right, beneath strings of lights and red flags, as part of a Rudrabhishekam ritual.2016-12-08Night photograph of a large black Shiva lingam with a white horizontal tripundra band, set on a tiered black yoni-pitha base at an outdoor ritual ground. A seated figure in red robes sits on a golden throne with an ornate gold backrest, a gold umbrella-like canopy above, and a multicoloured striped mat in the foreground with brass pots and gold ritual vessels. Two priests in white dhotis stand beside the platform. On the right, a tiered stand of seated devotees watches under strings of lights and red flags. Glowing spotlights light the scene and a wall of lamps lines the background.2016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08December 08 20162016-12-08Night photograph of a large black stone Shiva lingam with a horizontal white band, decorated with marigold garlands, rising from a stepped black yoni-pitha base at an outdoor ritual ground. A man in an orange-red robe with a crown-like headdress sits on an ornate golden throne with a tiger-motif base, under an orange and yellow canopy with tassels. Golden trident staffs stand around the throne, with brass pots and lamps nearby. Two priests in orange-yellow dhotis sit at the base, and a shirtless man in a dhoti stands on a scaffold at the top of the lingam. Tiered seating with spectators and red flags fills the background, under string lights.2016-12-08