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A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night. A young man in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl stands at left, pouring white cooked rice or annam from a copper vessel onto a dark stone Shivalinga set in a stone yoni-peetham basin. The priest has white tripundra ash on his forehead and a rudraksha mala around his neck, and wears gold bangles. Water glistens on the basin. At right, the bronze feet of a deity murti in a white silk garment with a red and gold border are visible. Two people in white clothing stand in the background.

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A priest in saffron-orange robes with a purple and white tilak on his forehead pours cooked white rice from a round metal vessel onto a dark stone Shiva lingam set in a stone yoni basin. Grains of rice scatter and cover the basin around the lingam, as part of an annabhishegam offering. To the right, a bronze deity murti with an ornate foot wears a white dhoti with red and gold border. A second person in white clothing stands in the background, partly visible.2007-10-25A temple priest in an orange saffron dhoti and shawl pours white cooked rice from a copper vessel over a dark stone Shiva lingam set in a grey carved stone yoni pedestal. The rice covers the lingam and spreads across the base in a heap, marking an annadan-style annabhishekam offering. A standing golden deity murti with a red-jewelled crown and a figure in white and maroon ritual clothing with gold border appear at the right. A priest with a white tilak on his forehead performs the offering. The background is dark with carved stone pillars.2007-10-25A photograph of an abhishekam at a temple shrine. A man in an orange saffron dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha-style bead necklace, pours white granular material from a cloth bag over a tall dark stone shivalinga set in a round yoni-pitha base on a carved stone platform. Several men in white dhotis with orange waist sashes stand behind him. At the right, the bare feet and lower legs of a large deity murti are visible, adorned with gold anklets and draped in a maroon silk garment with gold border. Water runs off the pitha into the channel.2007-10-25A priest in orange robes pours white rice flakes or powder from a large gold-rimmed brass plate over a tall brown Shivalingam set in a stone yoni pedestal, during an annabhishegam offering. Powder spills over the lingam and pedestal. Another man in white dhoti and shirt with an orange cloth stands behind, and a young man in white with a rudraksha mala and tilak stands at right. Grey carved stone pillar at left and a small oil lamp on the floor.2007-10-25A photograph of a temple ritual at a stone shivalinga on a circular yoni-peetha base, where a priest in orange robes and a rudraksha mala pours white powder from a large brass plate onto the stone lingam, which is already dusted with white. Powder spills onto the base and floor. To the right, a young man in white dhoti and kurta with an orange sash and a rudraksha mala and a white tilak on his forehead stands with hands clasped, observing. Another attendant in white stands behind the priest.2007-10-25A temple ritual in which a young priest in an orange saffron cloth with a white tilak on his forehead pours white rice grains from a copper vessel onto a dark stone Shivalinga. Grains scatter across the stone and the base. Behind him, a second priest in white dhoti and white shirt holds a copper pot of rice, and a third figure in white stands nearby. At right, a large deity murti in a purple and gold garment with gold trim and jewellery sits on a golden pedestal. A man in white with a rudraksha mala stands at left. The scene appears to be an annabhishekam offering of rice to the lingam.2007-10-25A temple ritual photograph of an annabhishegam offering. A priest in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl, with a white tilak on his forehead, pours from a copper vessel over a dark stone Shivalinga on a black stone yoni pedestal, which is heaped with white cooked rice. Another priest in white dhoti with a red-bordered cloth and a rudraksha mala stands at left holding a copper pot of rice. A third attendant in white sits at far left beside brass vessels. Behind them a deity murti in a purple garment with gold border and orange floral garland sits on a stone platform. The floor is wet and dotted with rice grains.2007-10-25A temple abhishekam scene at a large stone shivalinga set in a dark stone basin. A priest in an orange-saffron garment with a bare upper arm and a gold bangle pours white powder from a golden vessel onto the top of the lingam, and the powder spills in a bright cloud down its sides. A second priest in white clothes with a red-and-gold bordered cloth sits or bends behind the lingam, with a bronze foot visible at right. Carved stone pillars and ornate stone relief fill the background. Water and white ash collect on the pedestal.2007-10-25A photograph of an annabhishegam ritual at a temple. A priest in an orange saffron garment with a rudraksha mala and gold bangles holds a large brass plate heaped with white cooked rice and tips it so the grains pour over a dark stone Shiva lingam. Its top is covered in rice. A man in white kurta with a red cord and an orange cloth stands to the right, partly visible. Grey stone pillar at left edge.2007-10-25Close photo of a priest in an orange-saffron garment and silver bangles pressing his fingers to a dark stone shivalingam topped with a heap of white rice-like offering. A yellow-and-red marigold flower sits on the lingam's side. Beside it, a silver bowl with green leaves is held in his left hand. On the right, only a bare foot in a silver-embellished sandal and the hem of a white dhoti with a red and gold border are visible, belonging to another person in white ritual dress. Dark background with a carved stone pillar behind.2007-10-25A photograph of an annabhishekam ritual at a stone shivalinga. A priest in an orange shawl and orange-red sash pours white cooked rice from a large golden vessel over the lingam, rice flying around it. Behind him a man in white clothing with rudraksha and a white tilak on his forehead stands watching. At the right edge, a deity statue's bare bronze foot rests on a stone pedestal, wearing a white silk garment with red and gold border. Stone carved pillars form the background.2007-10-25A young priest in saffron-orange robes and white vibhuti tripundra on his forehead pours liquid from a golden vessel over a tall, weathered stone lingam on a pedestal, with spray falling around it. Beside him, a large golden deity murti wearing a white dhoti with orange-and-gold border and a purple shawl with gold trim stands in a stone-pillared temple hall. The priest wears a gold bangle and a wristwatch. The scene depicts abhishekam, a ritual bathing of the lingam, in a dim temple interior.2007-10-25