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Evening photograph of a nighttime ritual seen from behind a crowd of devotees. In the centre a tall flame rises from a golden ornate structure with a trident-like finial, possibly a fire vessel or lamp stand, set against a dark blue backdrop. In the foreground a shaved-headed man in a plain orange-brown cloth draped over his shoulder and a saffron-and-gold sash stands facing the flame. Other devotees around him wear red shoulder cloths and white or striped shirts, some holding small lit lamps. Gold dhwaja-like ornaments flank the scene.

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A photograph of an evening aarti at night. In the foreground, a large multi-tiered brass lamp blazes with tall flames, held up by a shaved-headed priest seen from behind in a white shirt and saffron-red shawl. Around him, devotees in shawls and white and striped clothes hold up small oil lamps and cups. Behind them, a figure in red and white with a garland stands before a gold-embellished backdrop; a person is shown here seated before the gold backdrop, but the figure's features and cues are only partly visible, so identity is uncertain. Brass lamp stands and ornamental finials frame the scene on the right.2015-07-21December 04 2006 - Karthikai Deepam, Tiruvannamalai2006-12-04January 06 20182018-01-06A homa fire ritual in a tent with a brick fire pit burning with flames and smoke, flanked by orange marigold flowers. A seated priest with bare shoulders, a red turban and a long rudraksha mala sits behind the fire, tending it with a metal vessel nearby. A standing man in saffron-orange dhoti and shawl with a mala and folded hands stands beside a tiered brass stand of oil lamps, and a large decorated offering platform with garlands sits at right. Rows of seated and standing devotees in saffron and maroon shawls fill the background, with a few children at left and a camera on a tripod at upper left.2015-07-17Photograph of a dim temple interior during a ritual lamp ceremony. In the foreground a bare-chested man in a tall ornate gold-and-silver crown and a saffron wrap holds a floral garland of yellow and white flowers and stands before a large brass tray of lit oil lamps. Several devotees stand behind, some bare-chested with rudraksha malas and vibhuti, others in white shirts. At the right edge a shaved-headed priest in a saffron cloth and beaded necklaces, with glasses, watches the flames. Strings of marigold garlands hang from the ceiling. A small logo appears at top left and a copyright line sits at right.2006-12-04A photograph of a night fire ritual under a corrugated metal roof. A bright fire burns in a low stone-rimmed pit in the foreground, with smoke rising. Several men stand around it with palms pressed together in namaste. The man second from left wears a white dhoti with gold borders and a white upper cloth, with rudraksha beads around his neck. Beside him a man in a saffron-orange upper cloth and a bare-chested man stand with hands folded. At left edge a woman in an orange sari also folds her hands. Several men in brown and rust-coloured robes with gold-bordered cloths stand in the background. On the right, a bare-chested man in a golden-bordered orange dhoti stands near a man in a white shirt and checked lungi. A purple logo appears at top left.2013-09-04 +2 copiesJanuary 05 20182018-01-05Night photograph of a homa (fire ritual) in progress at an outdoor ashram setting. A large fire burns in a square stone fire pit in the centre, with sticks and offerings beside it. A man in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl, wearing a long layered garland and gold ornaments, stands at the right holding a ritual vessel and pointing toward the flames. Around the fire, shaved-headed priests and devotees in saffron and orange robes sit on the ground, some with rudraksha malas. Behind them a large crowd of seated people in white clothing fills the courtyard, with a silver-framed altar panel and a deity murti with flower garlands on a pedestal at the left. Hanging green and floral decorations frame the scene.2013-07-22July 16 20152015-07-16A temple interior during an aarti ceremony. In the centre, a bare-chested man with a shaved head and a red-and-gold headband wears an orange cloth and a large rudraksha mala, arms raised overhead toward a flaming lamp. Behind him, a man in white dhoti holds a tray and other devotees stand with palms joined. At lower right, a woman with her hair pinned with flowers faces the flame held in a brass vessel. A yellow decorated plate and a painted red-and-green wall panel are visible in the background. The appearance-based cues do not clearly match the a person description, so the central figure is described by role only.2012-05-16 +1 copiesDecember 07 20162016-12-07October 27 20142014-10-27