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Interior of a stone temple during an abhishekam on a Shiva deity murti, with a large black stone shivalinga-style form and decorated deity figures draped in colourful garlands of yellow marigolds and red-white flowers. Several men in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls stand around the sanctum; one in a rust-brown top and leopard-print waist cloth pours water over the deity. A tall figure with long swept-back dark hair and a trident-marked forehead stands at the front, holding a trident-like ritual object.

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February 13 20182018-02-13Photograph inside a temple sanctum of a ritual abhishekam: a stream of water pours over a dark stone deity murti adorned with yellow and red flower garlands and gold jewellery. A man in a brown-and-leopard-print wrap and bare arms pours from a vessel, while beside him a woman in an orange sari with white ash markings and a rudraksha mala assists. Several other men in orange and saffron dhotis, bare-chested, with tilak and bangles stand around. A pink and white flower garland decorates a small brass image at the front, and marigold garlands are laid on the floor. Some attendees wear crown-like headpieces and tall braided hair.2018-02-13February 13 20182018-02-13February 13 20182018-02-13A temple abhishekam scene: a bare-chested man in a brown cloth and leopard-print wrap pours liquid over a green-tinted shivalinga on a round peetha base. Garlands of yellow, white and red flowers drape a deity murti behind him. To the left, several men in orange and saffron dhotis and shawls stand with pink and white garlands, one with long hair in a crown-like topknot. Brass lamps and a golden prabhavali frame the scene.2018-02-13A temple abhishekam scene. A bare-chested man in a leopard-print wrap and maroon-brown dhoti stands at center, holding a copper vessel and pouring water over a dark stone yoni-peetha base. Behind him a robed attendant in saffron/orange clothing and a white-and-saffron headwrap stands, and another man in an orange cloth and dark head covering stands at left. The water cascades onto a large deity murti at right, decorated with thick garlands of yellow, red and green flowers, a gold necklace, and draped in orange-and-red cloth. Stone pillars and a carved ceiling frame the shrine.2018-02-13A temple abhishekam scene at a sanctum with a dark stone shivalinga on a black base being bathed with water poured from a vessel. Several men and women in orange and rust-coloured dhotis and shawls, some bare-chested with white sandalwood markings, stand around the lingam, one man in a leopard-print cloth pouring water. Behind them stand ornate metal and deity murtis draped in yellow and white flower garlands and red bead strands, one with a gold crown and a trident, and a tall decorated kalasha-like form. Small flower garlands in pink and white sit on a brass stand in the foreground. Ritual performed in a stone temple interior.2018-02-13February 13 20182018-02-13A photograph of an evening abhishekam at a temple shrine. A man in a brown dhoti with leopard-print cloth wraps and dreadlocked hair holds a metal vessel and pours liquid over a large dark stone lingam-style abhishekam basin. Nearby, a priest in an orange-red dhoti with bare back and a shawl stands at the shrine, and other men in orange and brown robes assist with brass vessels. A trident stands upright on the left, and garlands of yellow, red, white and pink flowers drape the deity murti and small shrine figures in the foreground, with marigold petals scattered on the floor.2018-02-13A photograph of an abhishekam at a temple shrine. A large black stone linga-style base receives a yellow liquid poured from a vessel held by a bare-chested man with dark matted hair and a brown cloth wrap, wearing a leopard-print skirt and rudraksha beads. Beside him a woman in an orange dhoti with white ash markings on her arms stands with hands joined. Behind them a man in a brown wrap and rudraksha mala and a bare-chested man with a red turban stand near a tall garland of yellow, red and white flowers. Pink and yellow flower garlands decorate a small golden deity murti in the foreground, and the scene is framed by a yellow garland on the right.2018-02-13A temple interior photograph of a ritual at a dark stone shrine. Several men in saffron and orange dhotis and shawls, some bare-chested with white body markings, stand around a black lingam on a stone pedestal. Behind it a large deity murti is adorned with yellow and red garlands, a trident and ornate gold jewellery. Pink and yellow flower garlands lie on the floor, and oil lamps stand at the left edge beside a red curtain. The men appear to be performing abhishekam to the lingam.2018-02-13A temple abhishekam in progress before a richly decorated deity murti. A bare-chested man in a leopard-print dhoti pours a golden vessel of yellow liquid over the murti, which stands on a green stone pedestal. Yellow and red garlands and a gilded arch frame the deity. Beside him, another man in an orange-red cloth draped over his shoulder and bare upper body stands with his back partly turned, and further figures in orange and red attire stand at the left edge near pink flower garlands. A trident and a brass lamp stand are visible. Several people are partly visible at the edges of the frame, and the scene is a temple shrine interior.2018-02-13