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Evening outdoor ritual on a decorated stage under a tent canopy with yellow and orange drapes and green-and-white floor covering. A man seated on a gold ornate throne wears an orange-brown cloth and a shawl, with a gold-framed backdrop behind him. To the right, a standing priest in saffron-orange clothing and a white-beaded necklace holds a lit lamp aloft with smoke rising. Nearby, a gilded deity murti sits surrounded by flower garlands, and a painted deity image stands at the left edge. Women in white saris with green borders and a man in white dhoti stand before brass lamps, kalasha vessels and trays of puja offerings on a low table, while devotees in white clothing look on.

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A festive outdoor pandal stage decorated with red and yellow drapes, green carpet and marigold garlands. A man in orange-saffron clothing sits on an ornate gold throne at centre, flanked by a painted deity mural on the left and a gold peetha with a decorated deity image on the right. On the far right a shaved-headed man in orange robes and beads holds a lit oil lamp, and women in white saris and a woman in red stand around offerings, a brass lamp stand and a table of flowers and fruit. A large idol with a painted goddess backdrop occupies the left side. Several people are visible, and firewood lies at the lower edge.2012-10-16October 16 20122012-10-16Night photo of a temple-style pandal stage with orange and green ceremonial decoration. Beside him is a deity murti decorated with garlands. In the foreground a barefoot man in a pink-red dhoti and shawl stands with his back to the camera, holding a ritual vessel, while a woman in a white sari with red border sits before a fire pit with brass lamps, offerings and a bowl. Two other women in white sit at left near a red curtain. The murti and offering setup suggest a puja or homa, with a ceremonial fire burning.2012-10-16October 16 20122012-10-16Night ritual on a canopied stage with orange, red and green draped ceiling. A standing priest in a pink-orange dhoti and shawl with red border raises a silver ritual lamp and holds a bell in his other hand, facing a golden throne. A figure in orange robes sits on the gilded throne, garlanded with flower strings. Beside it stands a golden shrine with a deity murti decorated with garlands. A woman in white sari with red blouse sits at the lower left, holding a brass ritual implement. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style offering set and a yellow-rimmed fire pit stand on the floor.2012-10-16October 16 20122012-10-16October 16 20122012-10-16Night ceremony under a striped canopy with red, green, orange and yellow trim. A priest in a pink dhoti and bare upper body holds a lit camphor or aarti lamp aloft at left, facing the altar. On the altar, a large clay deity murti of Durga, with multiple arms and a lion mount, stands beside a seated figure in saffron-orange robes on a gold-carved throne with floral garlands. A woman in a red sari sits at a harmonium-like instrument at lower left, with brass oil lamps, a microphone and offering plates in the foreground. A second garlanded deity image appears at right.2012-10-16A temple-style stage under a tented canopy decorated with orange, red and green fabric bands and marigold garlands. Centre stage, a figure in a rust-orange robe sits on a gilded throne with a yellow cushion, a garland draped over the throne back. Left, a white-and-silver framed deity murti of a multi-armed goddess stands on a lion. Right, a gold-framed deity murti is adorned with garlands. In the foreground, a priest in a pink dhoti and shawl stands at a brass-and-silver puja table with lamps, a bell, a pot and flower offerings. Another priest in orange robes with folded hands stands at the right edge, and an ornate kalasha and brass lamps are on the table.2012-10-16Night-time ritual on a decorated open-air stage with a fire pit in the foreground. A standing priest in saffron-orange dhoti and shawl raises a lit kalasha/aarti lamp toward the fire, with smoke rising. A bald man in white dhoti with gold trim and a gold necklace sits cross-legged at left, hands folded, with a microphone stand before him. Two people in white sit to the right beside a tray of flowers, fruit and brass vessels. Behind them stand golden deity murtis, one dark-skinned figure in gold and one in a maroon cloth. On the raised dais, a seated figure in orange robes with a rudraksha-style garland and long hair sits on a throne under a large floral garland, with an attendant in orange nearby. Marigold and rose garlands decorate the stage, and a gilded parasol canopy stands above.2011-12-20August 09 20152015-08-09Night outdoor homa at a large open-air pavilion decorated with coloured streamers and a banner reading in Tamil. A figure seated on a gold-carved throne wears an orange robe and a red-and-orange cloth and has a hand raised. In the foreground a shaved-headed priest in orange robes holds a flaming lamp aloft over a brick fire pit with flowers on its rim. A gold-framed deity murti stands on a gold table, with a kalasha-style vessel nearby. Seated devotees in white dhotis and orange robes, some with palms joined, surround the scene, and a man at left reads from a book. Bright floodlights light the scene.2011-11-10