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A photograph of a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a red border and gold chain, pouring a liquid from a ladle over a black stone yoni-peetha or altar at night. A brass oil lamp with a flame sits in the foreground, and a kalasha-like brass ornament is beside a garland of yellow and purple flowers draped over green and red cloth. Other seated devotees in white and a boy sit in the background beneath orange and patterned banners.

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October 15 20102010-10-15Night outdoor ritual at a stone fire pit lined with white tiles. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with red-and-white trim, wearing a long beaded necklace and white-and-red tripundra marks, extends his right arm over the pit, holding a ladle or spoon. A brass oil lamp burns in the foreground beside a brass kalasha-like vessel and a brass bowl. To the right, a wooden peetha-style stand is draped with yellow marigold garlands, purple flowers and a green silk cloth with red and gold border. Behind, seated devotees in white watch the ritual; banners with orange fringe hang from above.2010-10-15A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with a red-bordered cloth, wearing a long gold-and-beaded necklace and a red bindi with white tilak, pours or offers from a metal ladle over a black stone yoni-shaped base or homa pit lined with white stone, near a brass oil lamp burning in the foreground. Behind him, several seated devotees in white clothes and a seated man in a white shirt watch. To the right, a green silk cloth draped over an ornate wooden seat, with yellow and purple flower garlands and a silver platter nearby. Colourful orange-and-blue hanging banners frame the top of the scene at night.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15 +1 copiesPhotograph of an outdoor evening ritual at night. A bald man in white dhoti and shawl with red border, wearing several gold necklaces, sits on a white platform and extends his right arm to point. Around him are seated devotees in white clothes, some wearing rudraksha-style necklaces, and a brass oil lamp with a lit flame sits on the white altar in front. On the right a colourful floral garland and a green and yellow cloth are draped over a wooden stand. Blue and orange cloth banners with floral patterns hang from the top of the frame. The scene is dim and smoky.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15Night outdoor ritual photograph. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with red-bordered edges, wearing a beaded necklace, stands centre holding a lit flame in a brass vessel while waving it before him. Around him, seated devotees in white clothing with palms pressed together face the scene; one has a shaved head and tilak markings, another wears a gold necklace. In front, brass lamps, bowls of offerings, marigold garlands and a green and purple cloth sit on a low platform. Palm fronds, bamboo-hung leaf garlands and a decorated banner hang overhead, with circular metal hoops above. The scene suggests an aarti or homa-style puja.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold-edged border kneels at a square homa fire pit, feeding offerings into flames with a long metal ladle. He wears a gold necklace and a white tilaka on his forehead. Silver pots and a kalasha-style vessel sit on the stone ledge, with green plants and a red-and-white striped wall behind him. Other people are partly visible at the left. This is a fire ritual scene. The priest's identity cannot be determined from appearance.2011-12-17