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Night-time temple ritual in an open-sided courtyard with orange walls and a corrugated roof. A fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground beside brass vessels and offerings. Behind it stands a large deity murti draped in colourful flower garlands and a rainbow-striped canopy, with a red cloth and a gold throne. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested and holding a flame, performs aarti near the fire. Five young girls in bright silk dresses sit on the floor with hands folded in prayer, with rose petals and small brass plates before them. Potted plants line the steps, and a small Shiva-style murti with garlands stands at the right.

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Evening outdoor ritual at a temple courtyard with orange-painted walls. A square white fire pit holds a bright flame, with brass and steel vessels and offerings on the left. Behind it stands a large deity murti or ornate decorated throne covered in multicoloured flower garlands, with a striped canopy above. Several girls in colourful traditional dress sit on the floor in front, holding small lamps and flower petals, with brass plates before them. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left holding a lit lamp, another white-clad priest stands behind, and a figure in orange robes stands in the background. A garlanded Ganesha-type murti sits at the right by steps.2011-12-31December 31 20112011-12-31Evening outdoor ritual at a temple courtyard with an orange wall. A large decorated deity murti stands on a golden throne under a tasselled canopy, draped in colourful flower garlands and red cloth. In front, a priest in a white dhoti sits beside a square white homa fire pit with a raised rim, holding ritual items. Five young women in saris and garlands sit in a row on the floor, some in green, yellow and pink, with flower petals scattered around them. A small standing figure of a deity stands to the right near potted plants, and a lamp hangs from the roof. A banner on the wall is partly visible.2011-12-31December 31 20112011-12-31Evening temple ritual in an open-air courtyard with orange walls and a corrugated roof. A tall deity murti draped in garlands of yellow, red and white flowers stands on a gilded pedestal under a multicoloured canopy. In front, a raised white-tiled square homa pit with a fire-ready opening is surrounded by brass vessels and scattered rose petals. Five young boys in maroon robes and white flower garlands sit cross-legged on the orange floor with brass plates. A man in white dhoti and shawl stands at left holding a lit lamp, with other white-clad priests and devotees behind him. A small black stone figure garlanded with white flowers sits at right near potted plants.2011-12-31December 31 20112011-12-31Night-time temple ritual in an open courtyard with an orange-walled shrine. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested, stands at left with palms pressed together beside a square stone homa or fire pit with a dark interior. Behind it, a large golden deity murti or ratha-style figure is heavily draped with garlands of yellow and orange flowers and multicoloured fabric. Five women seated on an orange cloth at right wear saffron, yellow, green and white saris and flower garlands, several with hands folded or holding flowers. Brass vessels and offerings lie at the lower left. A small black stone idol stands at the right with garlands, and potted plants line the steps.2011-12-31A temple courtyard at night during a ritual. A man in white dhoti and white shawl sits on the left behind a square white homa fire pit with a small flame and offering bowls and brass vessels around it. Several women in bright saffron, orange and green saris wearing flower garlands sit in a row beside the pit, and a young woman in a yellow sari and another in green sit near a richly decorated deity murti on a golden throne-like peetha, draped in colourful garlands. A man lies prostrate in front in a white dhoti, performing padapuja-style devotion on the orange-cloth floor scattered with flower petals and small plates of fruit. A standing priest in white stands at the back, and a shaved-headed figure appears at the far left. Orange walls, a banana plant and a small garlanded deity figure on a pedestal complete the setting.2011-12-31December 31 20112011-12-31A night-time outdoor temple ritual at an open courtyard with an orange-painted wall and a corrugated roof. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left, raising his hand in blessing toward a square stone homa/yagna pit filled with dark ash or embers. Behind the pit, a large deity murti or idol under a multicoloured canopy is heavily decorated with garlands of marigolds and red flowers, with golden ornaments and a decorated peetha/throne. Five boys in maroon-red robes and white flower garlands sit cross-legged on the floor in front, scattered with rose petals, some with hands folded in namaskar. A few other white-clad participants sit in the background. Potted plants line the steps at right, and a small black statue garlanded with white flowers stands near the entrance.2011-12-31Outdoor evening temple courtyard with a sacred fire pit (homa kund) burning in a white stepped platform. A deity murti decorated with a garland of multicoloured flowers and gold trim stands on a raised dais behind. Five young girls in colourful dresses sit cross-legged on an orange cloth with lit oil lamps and plates of petals, hands folded in prayer. In the foreground a man in white dhoti lies prostrate face-down on the cloth. Behind, a man in white dhoti and an orange-clad figure stand near metal vessels and offering plates, with a red cushion in the lower right.2011-12-31Evening ritual in an orange-walled open courtyard decorated with banana plants and leafy bunting. A large fire blazes on a white stepped platform before a deity murti with garlands and a red and gold backdrop. Priests in white dhotis and orange cloths tend the fire; one priest in white stands at left. Seated devotees fill the foreground on orange and mat cloths, including a woman in an orange patterned top and a woman in a lavender shawl. A seated figure in orange robes and a rudraksha-style beaded mala sits on a red-cushioned seat at right, with a shaved-headed attendant in white nearby. Brass vessels and a gold kalasha-like pot sit near the fire, with a homa-style offering in progress.2011-10-26