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A temple ritual in progress before a golden shrine decorated with red and yellow flower garlands. On the left, an older bearded priest with white tilak marks on his bare chest and a rudraksha mala sits in a yellow dhoti, pouring or sprinkling from a vessel over a small offering. On the right, a younger shirtless man in a white dhoti with a coloured border bends forward, holding a silver tray. In the centre, a figure in white and yellow silk with garlands stands beside a deity murti, possibly a statue behind the offering. Brass lamps, flower petals, bowls of offerings, a green stone platform and banana-leaf garlands of yellow and red blossoms fill the floor. Smoke or incense hangs in the air.

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Ritual scene in a hall with a gold ornate throne at left and right. A white-bearded elder in saffron robes with a white tilak sits on the left throne behind a garland. In front, a young man in white dhoti and shawl with white markings on his body and a rudraksha mala sits on the floor with folded hands. A man in rust-coloured dhoti and shawl with rudraksha mala and glasses stirs a silver bowl of red flower petals. A young boy in saffron with white tilak sits between them. At right, a seated person in a red-and-gold turban, long red flower garland, gold necklace and bangles sits on a gold throne beside a silver staff with a bird finial. Brass plates of bananas and a kalasha with mango leaves and coconut stand in front, with puja items nearby.2015-04-28Photograph of a puja inside a draped red and maroon tent-like hall. On the left, a raised red-draped platform holds decorated deity murtis with garlands of yellow marigolds and red flowers. In the centre-right, an ornate gold throne with a blue cloth and a golden umbrella holds a seated figure garlanded with red and yellow flowers. In the foreground, a man in a yellow shawl and white dhoti sits facing the altar, performing ritual offerings with brass plates of fruit and flowers. To the right, three men in white dhotis and shawls sit on a striped rug singing into microphones, with one wearing an orange robe. Brass oil lamps stand in the background, and trays of offerings are arranged on the floor. Garlands and offerings are visible throughout.2015-07-13 +2 copiesJuly 13 20152015-07-13A homa or yagna ritual in a gilded room with yellow walls. Smoke rises from a fire pit of dry sticks at lower left, where a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and white shawl tends the fire. A second priest in white dhoti and a blue-and-white waist cloth stands at centre. At right, a man in a yellow dhoti with a green and orange shawl wears a pink flower garland and holds a metal bowl in one hand while raising a yellow-and-white decorated object in the other. Behind them are a gold-framed throne-like seat with green drapery, a colourful fringed canopy, brass lamps and a deity murti with garlands.2015-07-16A homa fire ritual in an open hall at night, with smoke rising from a square fire pit decorated with marigold garlands. A bare-chested young priest in orange dhoti and rudraksha mala stands at left holding a brass plate. A priest in white dhoti holds a plate of offerings and speaks into a microphone, while a priest in yellow vest and white dhoti pours liquid from a vessel over the fire. Brass vessels, bananas, turmeric and kumkum sit on a striped cloth. Behind the fire pit a golden ornate throne holds a deity murti with garlands, and a seated figure in saffron sits to its right. Colourful hanging decorations and lights fill the ceiling. A small group of seated devotees appears at the left edge.2016-12-15Ceremonial puja inside a temple hall with a golden shrine arch and magenta drape behind two large gold-clad deity murti seated on a peetha, both draped in yellow garlands and red and yellow flower strands. Four men sit on the floor in front. At left an older bald man with white beard, eyeglasses, rudraksha mala and orange-and-gold dhoti gestures while speaking. Next to him a man in a brown hat and pink-and-white shawl sits. At right a man in a green turban-style headpiece, white dhoti and garland holds a ritual item, while a shirtless young man sits facing the shrine. Brass vessels, a kalasha-like pot, platters of yellow and red flowers and banana leaves fill the foreground.2013-07-18A temple ritual before large colourful deity murtis draped in yellow and orange silks and garlanded with red, yellow and multicoloured flower strands. On the left an older bare-chested priest with white ash markings and a rudraksha mala pours from a small vessel toward a brick-built fire altar decorated with marigolds and green leaves. Behind the altar a man in a green turban-style head cover, white dhoti and a white garland with a red-yellow flower band stands with ash markings on his forehead and chest. On the right a younger bare-chested man with a topknot sits cross-legged, gesturing over silver bowls of marigold and rose petals. Silver pots and a kalasha sit on the floor.2013-07-18A homa ritual in a covered hall with a brick fire pit in the foreground. A shirtless priest in white dhoti sits at left, waving a ladle or stick over the pit, which holds offerings and marigold garlands. A standing man in a white dhoti and orange-red shawl with a beaded necklace stands at right with hands folded. Two seated men in saffron-and-purple attire with white cloth chant at a microphone, one in the background at right. Behind them stands a gold-framed altar with a seated deity murti draped in marigold garlands, flanked by golden kalasha-style vessels and brass lamps. Gold-and-red ceremonial umbrellas decorate the sides of the hall.2015-07-17A ritual scene in a hall with a gold-and-ornate throne behind. A bare-chested priest in orange-brown cloth with a rudraksha mala and white forehead markings sits at a silver bowl, pouring from a small vessel, with an oil lamp burning before him. Beside him, a younger man in white dhoti with gold border and a rudraksha mala sits on a gold chair. On the right, a person in orange-brown robes, a red turban, a red flower garland and gold necklaces sits on a gold throne beside a silver staff topped with a trident-like finial. Behind them hangs a floral backdrop of red, yellow and green marigold garlands. At the front left, a tray of ripe bananas and brass vessels with a sprig of leaves completes the puja setup.2015-04-28July 18 20132013-07-18December 15 20162016-12-15A temple ritual photograph. Two shaved-headed priests in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls sit on a pink-draped floor before a richly decorated altar. The seated priest on the right works with a small bowl and offerings, while the priest on the left holds a tall golden staff with a white flower. Behind them stand three deity murtis dressed in green and orange, adorned with gold necklaces and crowns, framed by garlands of red roses and yellow marigolds. Silver vessels, bananas, a silver lamp and a golden lion-form throne sit at the front. Ornate gold-leaf pillars and a draped white canopy complete the setting.2013-04-21