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A bare-chested priest in a green dhoti and white sacred thread stands at a palanquin, performing aarti with a brass oil lamp with a bright flame toward a deity murti draped in orange and white cloth and garlanded with pink and white flowers. Coconuts sit on a tray in front. The palanquin has a red and blue canopy with gold trim and tassels and a gold-embellished frame. A young boy in a yellow shirt stands at the right edge. The priest wears a rudraksha-style mala and white tilak markings, but his face and appearance do not establish any identity, so this is a priest performing puja, not an identified person.

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A photo of a temple ritual at an ornate golden palanquin decorated with red, blue and gold canopy and tassels. A bare-chested older man with grey hair in a bun, white sacred marks and a white beaded necklace, wearing a green dhoti, holds a lit oil lamp with flame over a deity murti draped in white and orange cloth and garlanded with white and pink flowers. Coconuts and fruit sit on a brass tray at the foot of the palanquin. A younger man in a yellow shirt stands at the right with hands folded near the palanquin.2012-06-05A priest in a white dhoti and white shawl with a white ash mark on his forehead and a white beaded necklace holds a brass aarti lamp with three burning oil lamp flames toward a deity murti. The murti stands in a gold-framed silver palanquin decorated with pink and white flower garlands and a gold-embroidered orange cloth. A second priest with a rudraksha mala stands behind him, and a devotee in a yellow shirt is at the right edge. Coconuts and offerings sit on a tray below the lamps. Red and gold ceremonial hangings and tassels surround the palanquin inside a temple corridor.2012-06-05June 05 20122012-06-05June 05 20122012-06-05 +1 copiesA priest with a bare back and white dhoti aarti a silver-vessel lamp with three flames before a silver-clad murti of a saint seated in a gold palanquin. The murti wears a gold crown, white cloth and rudraksha mala, and is heavily garlanded with white jasmine, red and pink flowers. Behind him, red and gold canopy tassels hang, and onlookers stand with hands folded at the palanquin, while orange cloth and scattered petals lie on the palanquin base.2012-06-05 +1 copiesA photograph of a temple ritual at a gilded palanquin (pallakku) carrying a decorated deity murti draped in white and garlanded with pink, white and red flowers. A priest in white dhoti on the left holds a lit brass oil lamp toward the murti. Beside the palanquin stands an elderly bald man in orange robes with a gold-bordered shawl, a rudraksha mala and a headband, his hand resting on the palanquin. To the right a younger man in orange robes and a gold garland, with a sandalwood mark on his forehead, holds his hands together in greeting. Other devotees in white and orange stand behind, and a gilded shrine canopy hangs in the background.2012-06-05A photograph inside a temple shows a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and sacred thread performing aarti with a brass oil lamp before a small silver-and-gold deity murti decorated with pink, white and green garlands and an orange cloth. The murti sits in a golden palanquin with red and blue canopy fringed with tassels and a red velvet cushion. Coconuts and fruit lie on a tray in front. An older man with grey hair and glasses stands at left, and a boy in a yellow shirt stands at right, watching. The priest wears a white shawl and a grey-streaked topknot, and a ring on one hand. The palanquin appears to be part of a procession ritual.2012-06-05Photo inside a temple hall during a puja before a decorated deity murti under a red and blue canopy with tasseled fringe. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with a sacred thread, holds a lit oil lamp toward the murti, which is garlanded with white jasmine and pink flowers. In the foreground, a shaved-headed man in an orange-saffron cloth with gold border raises his hands in a blessing gesture, and another man in orange robes wearing gold-beaded necklaces stands with palms joined. Devotees in white and dark clothes stand behind.2012-06-05 +1 copiesJune 05 20122012-06-05 +1 copiesA photograph of a golden ceremonial palanquin-style peetha holding a deity murti adorned with multicolored flower garlands in purple, yellow, red and white and a jewelled crown-like headdress. A bald man in a rust-orange and gold dhoti-style garment, with a sacred thread and an arm band, leans in from the left holding a lit oil lamp with flames toward the altar. Golden bells and a tall golden staff with tassels in green, red, orange, blue and white decorate the structure against a dark maroon curtain.2015-04-24Night photograph of a temple ritual at a gilded processional palanquin. A bare-chested man in saffron-orange dhoti and shoulder cloth, with an orange head wrap, holds a silver lamp with a lit flame toward the front of the palanquin. Inside the golden canopy, two metal deity murtis sit on a red cushioned seat, one adorned with white garlands and a white cloth, the other in green and gold attire. The canopy is decorated with white jasmine and red flower garlands, and orange cloth hangs at the right edge. The setting appears to be an outdoor night procession or temple aarti.2008-11-11Photograph of a temple shrine at night with a golden arched frame and green draped backdrop. A priest with a bare upper body and orange cloth wrapped on the shoulders and an orange turban raises a lit oil lamp toward the central deity murti. A second person in orange robes sits at left. Two seated deity murtis in white garments with gold ornaments sit in front, and standing murtis flank the shrine. Offerings and flowers are visible, with a gold garland on the left. Aarti is being performed.2015-09-18