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Night outdoor ritual on sand before a crowd of onlookers. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in a striped maroon-and-cream dhoti stretches his arm toward three polished copper-toned deity murtis on low pedestals, one with a tall crown and raised hand. To the left, a man in a pink turban and white dhoti with a green-and-gold waist band holds a brass pot and flowers, and to the right a man in a pink-and-white dhoti wears a garland and holds a small brass vessel. Garlands of flowers hang on several figures and marigold petals lie on the pedestals. Spectators in white and light clothing stand behind a rope in the dark.

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Night outdoor ritual on sand before a seated and standing crowd. Three bronze metal deity murtis stand on a red-covered platform with a bronze peetha base; the central figure holds a trident-like staff and a small bell. Two men at left wear white dhotis and pink or magenta head cloths and garlands; one holds a silver vessel of flowers. A bare-chested priest in a striped lungi-style cloth faces the murtis while holding a ritual implement. At right, a man in a white dhoti with a pink-and-gold shawl and garland holds a small vessel. Spectators in white shirts and lanyards, and others in dark clothes, stand in the background at night.2015-12-25Night outdoor photo on sand of a ritual with metal deity murtis on a raised base. Several figures stand around them: a shirtless man with a pink turban and rudraksha-style necklaces; a shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a striped purple-and-white cloth, pouring or offering with a flame-like gesture; another shirtless man in a pink-and-white cloth holding a small vessel; and a long-haired attendant with garlands. Behind them a crowd stands and sits watching in the dark. Copper-coloured deity figures include a standing form with a tall crown holding objects, a smaller figure, and a female figure in a patterned sari. A metal bowl sits on the sand.2015-12-25 +1 copiesDecember 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night-time outdoor ritual on sand, with three metal deity murtis on a raised platform being attended by priests. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a teal waistband and gold border pours liquid from a coconut-shaped vessel, while a second priest in a pink-and-purple striped dhoti stands at left holding a pot with leaves. At right, a man with his hair tied up wears a pink shawl over white dhoti and holds a small vessel. Devotees stand and sit in the background, some with hands folded in namaskar, and marigold petals are scattered at the murti bases. The scene suggests a puja or abhishekam.2015-12-25Night-time outdoor ritual on sand before a seated crowd. A priest in a white dhoti with a teal and gold waistband and a magenta head wrap pours or anoints a small bronze deity murti with his hands. Beside him stands a bare-chested attendant in a striped pink lungi holding a coconut and mango leaves, and another bare-chested attendant in a magenta dhoti holds a small kalasha vessel. Three larger copper-coloured standing murtis, including a crowned deity form, stand on a stone base. Several people with folded hands and garlands watch from behind.2015-12-25Night ritual outdoors on sand. A central figure in a red-orange dhoti-style garment with long dark hair and white forehead markings raises a small silver vessel above his head. Beside him, bronze deity murtis stand on a raised base, including a taller figure with a crown-like headdress and a smaller child figure. Nearby, a man in a red cloth and rudraksha beads stands with hands together, and two men in white dhotis with purple and green borders hold garlands. A steel pot sits on the sand. Behind them, a crowd of seated and standing devotees, many in white, watch and fold their hands in prayer under dark night sky.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night-time ritual abhishekam at an outdoor gathering. A priest in a magenta turban, bare-chested with a white dhoti bordered in teal and gold, pours water from a raised clear pot wrapped with green leaves over three bronze deity murtis with crowns and ornaments. Behind them, seated and standing devotees in white and dark clothing watch in the dark. Water streams down over the figures.2015-12-25Night outdoor puja scene with several people crowding behind. In the foreground a priest in white dhoti with a magenta turban and rudraksha-style beaded necklace leans forward to touch a copper-toned deity murti group, including a standing male figure and a smaller figure in a multicoloured garment. A second attendant at right wears a white dhoti with magenta-pink cloth, a beaded necklace and holds a small brass pot. Devotees behind watch, some with hands folded in namaskar. Sandy ground beneath the figures.2015-12-25Night-time outdoor abhishekam on sand: a shirtless priest in a striped pink-and-green dhoti and white-marked body pours liquid from a metal vessel over a bronze deity murti of a multi-armed form with a crown, paired with a bronze consort figure in a purple-and-blue draped cloth. Two other shirtless men with white dhotis and beaded necklaces stand nearby, and a seated crowd in the dark background watches. Red-cloth platform and offering vessels are visible at the base.2015-12-25Night outdoor ritual at a beach-like sandy setting. A priest in a white dhoti with a green and orange waist sash and a magenta turban stands at centre, pouring liquid from a small vessel over a gold-toned metal deity murti of a standing figure with a tall crown. Beside it a smaller gold figure and a figure in a multicoloured sari stand on pedestals, with a ceremonial pot and leaves nearby. On the left a bare-chested man in a striped lungi holds a coconut and leaves. On the right a bare-chested man in a magenta and white cloth holds a small vessel. Behind them a dense crowd in white and coloured clothing watches, some with hands folded in prayer. The scene suggests an abhishekam ritual.2015-12-25