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A photograph of a ritual at a temple-like setting decorated with garlands of red, white and yellow flowers. In the foreground a long-haired figure with dreadlocks, wearing a rust-orange wrap and orange cloth, pours white powder from a silver plate onto a mound of white powder. Beside them stands a richly adorned deity murti with gold and jewelled crown, necklaces and armbands, dressed in a red-gold brocade blouse and golden-patterned skirt. The scene suggests abhishekam or ritual offering with decorative ornamentation in gold and silver tones.

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February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam in progress at close range. A person seen from behind wears a rust-red wrap and has long black dreadlocked hair falling down the back, with a beaded bracelet on the wrist. They pour a fine white powder or milk-white substance from a round silver plate with a radiating sunburst design onto a mound of the same white material. Beside them stands a figure in an ornate dress of bronze-gold brocade with a red-and-gold patterned skirt, wearing heavy jewelled necklaces, shoulder ornaments and gold armlets. Strands of red and white flower garlands fill the background. The person pouring is partially visible; the decorated figure may be a murti or a costumed representation.2017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at night. In the left foreground a man with long dark braided hair, wearing a rust-red turban and rust-red cloth wrapped around his body, applies white and grey powder with his bare hand to a tall white-and-grey shivalinga-like form. Behind him stands a richly adorned deity murti in gold, red and white with jewelled crown, necklaces and armlets, and a dressed figure in a red and gold brocade blouse and patterned skirt with jewelled shoulder ornaments. Garlands of flowers hang at the right edge. The scene is dense with ornate decoration.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A close photograph of a ritual pouring white powder. The figure on the left wears a rust-orange wrap, a rudraksha mala on the bare arm and a gold bracelet; the adjacent figure on the right wears a red and gold brocade garment with ornate silver-and-gold embroidered jewelled collar and a gold sandal-like footwear. A flame of an oil lamp glows at the lower right edge. Only partial bodies are visible, and no face is shown. Appearance does not clearly establish a person candidate, so the person role is described as priest and devotee.2017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam in which white powder is poured over a large white lingam-shaped form on a base. A figure in a rust-orange wrap, with long dark braided hair and beaded bracelets, holds a silver plate and pours the powder from above. Beside them, a second person wears a maroon brocade blouse and a long skirt with heavy silver jewelled necklaces. Gold ritual objects and a lit lamp are visible at the lower edge. The white powder falls in a fine cloud across the scene.2017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at a temple, with a long-haired figure in a rust-orange wrap and dhoti pouring white powder or grains from a silver vessel onto a deity murti. The murti is adorned with a jewelled bodice in gold and crimson, gem-studded ornaments and a golden arm band, against a backdrop of dense red, yellow and white flower garlands. The pouring figure wears a rudraksha bracelet and a dark, long plaited hairstyle.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24