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A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and bare upper body kneels with palms joined in prayer before a black-topped white stone altar during a puja. Behind him stands a richly decorated shrine with a large image of a goddess with multiple arms and a Ganesha figure, surrounded by ornate umbrellas, white floral garlands and brass lamps. Standing to the left are a woman in a pale yellow sari and three men in white shirts and dhotis, also with hands folded. Offerings of fruit, lemons, bananas, brass bowls and a bell lie on the altar cloth in front.

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October 15 20102010-10-15A homa ritual in a temple hall at night. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and a white upper cloth, wearing a gold-coloured necklace, sits with joined palms beside a square white fire pit, fire trench empty of flame. Behind him a row of deity murtis stand under a tall decorated canopy, including a goddess with many arms holding weapons and a lion mount, and a gilded and white-adorned figure garlanded in red. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style brass vessel and trays of fruit (apples, oranges, limes, bananas) sit on white cloth in the foreground. Four men in white and yellow dhotis and shirts stand watching at the left. Saffron-orange drapery frames the scene.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15A night-time ritual at a homa or yagna pit: a shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha-style necklace sits cross-legged before a square white-edged fire pit, hands folded in namaskar. Behind him a woman in a pale yellow sari and three men in white stand with hands joined, one holding a camera. Brass plates of mangoes, bananas, lemons, apples and coconuts lie on a white cloth in the foreground, with brass lamps and kalasha vessels nearby. Behind the pit is a large deity murti group with a goddess in red and white adornments, a lion, and smaller figures decorated with white flower garlands under a fringed canopy.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15A photograph of a homa or fire ritual in a temple hall beside a row of deity murtis, including a goddess figure in white and red with a multi-armed form. A priest in white dhoti and shirt with a maroon border kneels and tends a square fire pit, with smoke rising. Standing behind him to the left are several men in white kurtas and a man in a khaki shirt with a lanyard, watching. Brass oil lamps, kalashas, brass plates of offerings, bananas, and an umbrella canopy with a tassel frame the altar, and orange and multicolour banners hang from the roof. No a person candidate is visible.2010-10-15A night-time homa ritual before a deity murti of a multi-armed goddess, shown with a lion mount and several attendant figures. A priest with a bare shaved head, wearing a white dhoti and a gold necklace, sits on the left beside a small fire burning in a metal pit. In front of the murti are a large white square altar, brass oil lamps, and trays of fruit, coconuts and vegetables spread across a white cloth. On the right, a seated person in an orange-trimmed red garment sits in a red cushioned chair with a gilded armrest. Ornate white floral backdrops, decorative umbrellas and a red-and-gold canopy frame the scene.2010-10-11October 15 20102010-10-15Night-time puja at an outdoor shrine with a tin roof and orange-and-white festive bunting. A bald priest in a white dhoti and shawl stands barefoot before a square white homa/yagna fire pit, holding an object to his mouth. Behind the pit, a row of deity murti are dressed in white floral garlands, with a large white umbrella canopy above them and a tiger/lion vahana near the center. A woman in a yellow sari and a man in white stand to the left. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, bananas, fruit, and metal offering bowls surround the altar.2010-10-15A night-time ritual at a homa fire pit in front of a large deity murti setting. A priest in white dhoti with a red border kneels at a square white stone fire pit, tending it, with a bronze bowl beside him. Standing behind him are several people: a woman in a pale yellow sari on the left, and men in white kurtas and dress shirts with lanyards. Behind the pit, ornate decorated deity figures are visible, including a multi-armed goddess with a lion and a ganesha figure, with white lace-like decorations and flower garlands. Brass oil lamps burn on the altar, and fruit and flowers are arranged on metal plates in the foreground. Bright lights illuminate the scene.2010-10-15Night-time homa ritual before a large goddess deity murti with multiple raised arms, a lion mount, and a ganesha figure to the left. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested, stands at a square white fire pit (homa kunda) holding a ladle and offering into the flame. Two women in white and cream saris sit at left among trays of mangoes, coconuts, marigold and red flower petals, and a plate of sweets. String lights and tall ornate pillars decorate the open-air canopy, and a red cushioned seat is at right. No candidate for a person is visible, so the image shows only the priest and attendees.2010-10-12