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Crowded temple scene around a black stone Nandi bull statue on a raised stone platform. In the foreground a bald man in an orange robe, with red tilak on his forehead, leans over the platform, while a bearded man with grey hair and a rudraksha mala works at the stone in the lower foreground, his hands near a brass plate of offerings. Around them, several men in saffron and orange robes stand and watch, a bare-chested man wears a gold chain, a man in a red cloth stands at left, and a man in white with a red-and-gold shawl stands behind the platform. Brass cups and small offerings sit on the stone. The scene suggests a ritual abhishekam at a Shiva shrine.

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Photograph of a ritual at a temple with a dark stone lingam-style shrine and a black stone bull (Nandi) figure on a grey stone platform. A bald man in an orange robe, with a rudraksha mala, reaches toward the offering table while a grey-bearded man bare-chested with a white sacred thread leans in from the lower right. Behind them, several men in orange and saffron robes stand and watch, and a man in a red shawl sits near a dark stone slab. Marigold garlands, a brass vessel, and lit oil lamps appear on the platform. Crowd members stand close behind the rail.2008-02-17Crowded night scene inside a temple mandapa at a ritual, with a black stone Nandi bull statue on a stone base in the centre. A bare-chested man in white dhoti and gold chain stands at the centre, holding up a dark flat stone slab, while devotees in saffron and orange robes and pink turbans press around. Garlands of orange marigolds and red flowers hang on the pillars, and several people hold cameras. A man at the left wears a white vest, and a few others wear saffron clothing and rudraksha malas. Marigold and flower offerings are arranged on the stone base. A visible saffron-robed figure with a long beard stands near the centre, and another person with a crown-like headpiece appears in the crowd, though these appearances are uncertain.2008-02-17February 17 20082008-02-17Crowded temple scene at a night ritual. A central figure in saffron-orange robes with a crown-like headpiece and a shawl stands beside a black stone animal sculpture (a bull-like vahana) set on a white stone pedestal decorated with orange and white marigold garlands. A bearded man in white with a rudraksha-style bead necklace gestures and holds his palms together. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti holds a large grey stone-type tray of offerings overhead, with plates of food and a flame near the pedestal. Officers in khaki uniforms and caps stand at left, and devotees in saffron and pink turbans and white shirts press around. Dark stone pillars and additional garlands frame the background. The scene suggests a temple abhishekam or puja.2008-02-17Photograph of a crowded temple interior at night, with a black stone Nandi-type sacred bull statue on a white platform at centre, draped in a flower garland with yellow and orange blossoms. A bare-chested man in white dhoti and rudraksha mala stands at the platform's left, hands near the statue. To the right, a man in saffron robes with long grey hair and beard stands among devotees; a second bearded man in saffron stands nearby, and a shaved-headed priest in orange-saffron cloth and a bare upper body pours from a vessel onto the statue. Orange and yellow marigold garlands hang on dark pillars and black deity statues line the hall, with many onlookers and uniformed police behind.2008-02-17A crowded temple interior during a ritual, with a black stone bull statue (nandi) on a stone base at center, draped in a red and gold cloth and garlanded with orange marigolds. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a rudraksha mala and a bead necklace stands with hands folded at the statue. To his right, a man with a long white beard wears saffron-orange robes, and beside him a bearded man in orange with a crown-like headpiece and a pendant stands with hands raised in prayer. A woman in the foreground holds a metal plate of offerings. Uniformed police officers and a cameraman with a camera on his shoulder stand among a dense crowd, many in orange and pink headwear. Marigold garlands hang on pillars behind.2008-02-17A nighttime temple scene with a crowd of devotees in the background. In the centre, a bald man in a saffron-orange robe with a red tilak on his forehead leans forward, reaching toward a grey stone structure and a flower-strewn stone slab, apparently offering flowers or performing a ritual at a stone linga-style shrine. Beside him, an older bearded man with grey hair in a bun, wearing a rudraksha mala and bare upper body with white sacred-thread cord, holds his hands open toward the stone. Behind them, people in saffron robes and a man in a white vest and red shawl stand near a black stone Nandi-type bull statue and a golden decorated palanquin or throne with garlands. Marigold petals and a brass vessel lie on the altar. This is a temple ritual.2008-02-17January 14 20092009-01-14Crowded temple interior during a ritual at a black stone deity murti on a grey stone pedestal, with a black bull-like stone sculpture in front. A bare-chested man in white dhoti holds a tray of dark offering in both hands toward the murti. Behind him, a bearded man in saffron robes wears a gold necklace and a crown-like headpiece. Around them, many men in saffron and orange clothing, some in pink or red headcloths, and uniformed attendants in olive-green stand close together. Garlands of orange marigolds hang on the walls and pillars, and green stage lights glow at the top. The scene suggests abhishekam at a temple shrine.2008-02-17February 17 20082008-02-17A temple interior with orange and saffron draped deity figures and marigold garlands. In the centre, a black stone Nandi bull with a yellow flower garland and a green garland sits on a tiled plinth beside a dark shivalinga-style stone and a brass bell. Three men in orange robes stand around it: on the left a smiling man in an orange turban and gold beaded necklace with hands folded; in the centre a bearded man in orange robes and a red-and-gold shawl extends his hand over the stone; on the right a bearded man in a light orange robe and red-and-gold shawl stands with hands together. White marble deity figures in red turbans line the back wall, and a person in white and pink clothing stands at the right edge.Dim stone temple interior with dark carved pillars and a doorway framed by black stone. Inside, a group of men stand around a dark stone shivalinga-style murti draped in red and yellow cloth and decorated with yellow flower garlands. A bare-chested man in a white dhoti bends forward over the murti, while an orange-robed sannyasi with shaved head and rudraksha mala wears a saffron garment and stands at the front. A figure in a long-haired orange robe with a yellow flower garland and a crown-like cloth stands near the centre. Other devotees in white and orange dress crowd behind them. Oil lamps glow at the base of the murti. Scene resembles abhishekam or puja at a temple sanctum.2011-12-20