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Night ritual under a covered pavilion with hanging paper lanterns and string lights. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a maroon-and-green sash and a pink head cloth bends over a wooden platform, pouring or offering over a fire pit, while another priest in white dhoti sits beside him. A shirtless attendant with an orange cloth over his shoulder stands at left, and devotees sit on striped mats behind them. Tables hold fruit, flowers, yellow marigold garlands, and brass vessels. At right, a seated figure in orange robes with flower garlands sits on an ornate gold throne with a sunburst backrest, looking on. The scene resembles a homa or puja at a temple event.

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A photograph of a Karthigai Deepam ritual inside a tent-covered temple hall at night. A square wooden fire pit with a dark lined centre is decorated with flower petals in the foreground, with flames and smoke rising from it. A priest in white dhoti and a saffron-coloured shawl kneels at the pit, tending a lit oil lamp. Another white-clad priest bends over ornate silver vessels, pots and fruit offerings arranged on a banana leaf. Behind them, a large golden throne with a sun-ray backrest holds a seated figure wearing a red-brown robe, a flower garland and a long mala necklace, and a dark shawl. Seated devotees in white fill the floor, and paper lanterns hang from the ceiling.2016-12-12December 12 20162016-12-12December 12 20162016-12-12Photograph of a ritual inside a canopied hall decorated with hanging colourful lanterns and fabric streamers. In the foreground, a shirtless priest in white dhoti with orange and yellow bordered cloth stands at a wooden homa or puja platform, while another priest in a yellow-bordered dhoti tends oil lamps and burning flames. A tray in front holds fruit, flowers and a leaf-plate of offerings. Behind them, seated devotees in white and a figure in red-and-gold dress sit before a golden throne-like seat with a sunburst backdrop. Floral garlands and ornate ritual objects are visible on the platform.2016-12-12December 12 20162016-12-12December 15 20162016-12-15A photograph of a ceremonial fire ritual under a decorated tent with hanging paper lanterns. In the centre a square fire pit with offerings of fruit, flowers and a kalasha sits on a striped rug. A seated priest in a white dhoti with an orange shawl leans over the pit, while another priest in white and a yellow-bordered cloth stands nearby, and a bare-chested attendant in yellow and white holds a bowl. Behind them many seated devotees watch. To the right a man in saffron-brown robes with long hair, flower garlands and a gold necklace sits on an ornate golden throne with sunburst rays, a person, identity unsure from appearance alone. Offerings of fruit and flowers are arranged on a silver tray in the foreground.2016-12-12A homa or yagna in a tent-covered ceremonial space: a square fire pit with a stepped brick and marigold-decorated base stands in the centre, with smoke rising. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a yellow border holds a vessel and bends toward the pit. A second priest in a white dhoti and saffron cloth stands beside it holding a ritual item. At left a shirtless man in a yellow-bordered white dhoti holds a microphone and speaks. Behind them seated devotees fill the floor. On the right a seated figure in an orange-brown robe, wearing a flower garland and a red headband, sits on an ornate golden throne with a large sunburst backrest. Fruit, bananas and flowers are arranged in front on banana leaves, and small decorative lanterns hang from the ceiling.2016-12-12A large tented hall with coloured paper streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, filled with seated devotees in white. In the centre, a wooden homa fire pit stands on a red carpet scattered with flower petals. Two priests in white dhotis, one bare-chested and wearing a saffron shawl, stand beside the pit; a woman in a white cloth with a saffron wrap stands behind them and another woman in a yellow cloth sits in front. On the right, a seated figure in red and gold robes, wearing a garland and a black crown-like headpiece, sits on a gilded throne under a multicoloured parasol, flanked by attendants. Brass pots of fruit, flowers and lamps are arranged in the foreground, and a camera crew films the ritual. Identity of the figure on the throne is uncertain from appearance alone.2016-12-05December 15 20162016-12-15December 12 20162016-12-12March 16 20172017-03-16