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A staged ritual setup in a hall with a deep magenta velvet drape behind it. A white-draped platform sits in the center, tiered with rows of small brass or silver bowls, many holding lit oil lamps and red flower petals. A saffron-orange cloth with purple borders covers the floor in front, decorated with arranged metal bowls, red and yellow flowers, and a red marigold garland. No people are visible. The arrangement suggests lamp offerings prepared for a ceremony.

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A photograph of an empty stage prepared for a ritual, with no people present. Tiered steps covered in orange cloth hold rows of small brass or silver vessels, many with flower petals and lamps. In the centre a white rectangular platform sits behind a triangular arrangement of brass dishes and vessels set on an orange mat with a blue-and-purple border, decorated with red rose petals and a red flower garland at the front. A dark red curtain hangs behind the stage.2010-10-17A photograph of an empty stage set for a ritual, with a white raised platform at centre and a deep magenta velvet curtain behind it. On the floor are rows of brass and steel plates and bowls holding small oil lamps and flowers, arranged in tiers on orange cloth with blue-and-gold borders. A triangular arrangement of lamps with red flower garlands is laid in front of the platform, with a red and yellow flower garland trailing down. No people are visible, and the setup suggests a puja or aarti preparation.2010-10-17A photograph of a ritual arrangement on a white-floored hall in front of a deep red draped curtain. Rows of silver oil lamps, each with a red flower, are set in tiered steps on both sides and in a large triangular pattern on an orange cloth with blue and white borders. A red flower garland lies at the base of the arrangement. No people are visible in the scene.2010-10-17A staged ritual setup in a hall with a deep maroon shimmering curtain behind it. Tiers of many brass or silver bowls and small oil lamps are arranged in rows on a white-topped platform and across a tan cloth on the floor. Red flower petals and rose-coloured garlands outline the arrangement, forming a triangular pattern at the front with small pink flower heaps. A purple-bordered mat lies at the front edge. No people are visible in the frame.2010-10-17Empty stage set for a ritual at a hall, backed by deep magenta velvet drapes with white valance swags. A white-covered platform sits center, flanked by tiered steps lined with rows of small brass or silver lamps. In front, a saffron-coloured floor cloth with purple borders holds a large pyramid of oil lamps and small clay lamps, outlined with red rose petals and garlands, with a garland trailing toward the viewer. No people are visible.2010-10-17October 17 20102010-10-17Photograph of an empty stage set for a puja or festival, with a deep magenta velvet curtain backdrop and white draped valance above. In the foreground, rows of small clay oil lamps (diyas) are arranged in tiered steps on either side of a white-draped central platform, with a triangular arrangement of lit lamps and red flower petals on a patterned purple and gold mat. A red flower garland hangs at the front. No people are visible, and the scene appears to be arranged for a ritual but no ritual is underway.2010-10-17A stage hall set for Dasara celebrations at Sri Puram, Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, with rows of brass and steel lamps lining the tiered steps. A large orange banner behind the stage shows a portrait of a man in an orange turban beside the Kannada word Dasara. On a central gilded throne-like structure sits a deity murti, flanked by decorated side murtis and garlanded thrones. Several people in white and yellow ritual clothes kneel and bow near the throne, a few seated on the right at a microphone. On the left a figure in white and red sits near a burning oil lamp with smoke rising. Circular brass plates of flowers and offerings are arranged on an orange and blue carpet in front of the steps. A portrait on the banner shows a turbaned man in orange, which is a printed image and not a person present.2010-10-17A photograph of a stage set for a Dasara celebration in a hall at Sripuram, Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, Hyderabad. A large orange banner behind the stage shows a smiling man in an orange turban and a painted Dasara title, with a golden throne in the centre and seated figures on either side. Rows of small brass oil lamps are arranged in tiers along the stage steps and in a heart-shaped pattern on an orange cloth in front, decorated with red flower petals. Several people in white and yellow clothes sit on the stage at the centre near the throne, with a few others seated on low chairs and at microphones at the right, and a figure in white sits at far left. The people are small in the frame and partly obscured by the lamp arrangements.2010-10-17October 17 20102010-10-17A stage set for a Dasara celebration with a large orange backdrop showing a painted portrait of a smiling man in an orange turban beside a Kannada word and English banner text reading Dasara. A central golden throne holds a deity murti or ornate figure with a crown, flanked by decorated peetha seats with flower garlands. Several people in white and cream traditional clothes sit in front of the throne performing puja, with a seated figure in white at the right edge. Rows of brass kalasha pots and lamps are arranged on steps and in a triangular floral pattern on orange cloth, with smoke rising at the left where a seated drummer or priest in red works beside a small fire. Stage lights hang from the ceiling.2010-10-17Indoor ritual hall during a Dasara celebration with a large orange and yellow backdrop showing a portrait of a man in an orange turban and the word Dasara in Kannada and English. On a central raised golden throne-like seat sits a figure in orange robes under a gold umbrella, flanked by two golden thrones holding deity murtis decorated with flower garlands. Several rows of brass kalasha pots are arranged on steps and on the floor, with flower petals and a triangular arrangement of brass plates and lamps on a blue and orange mat. A group of about six people in white dhotis and saris sit before the dais, with a man in white at right playing a harmonium and a man in orange at left near a small fire or incense. The scene is a puja and pattabhishekam-style observance.2010-10-17