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A photograph of a temple ritual in an open-sided hall with a corrugated metal roof. In the foreground, several women in white saris with coloured borders sit on a woven mat, tending rows of brass oil lamps and a tall multi-tiered brass lamp, some with lit flames. Behind a long metal table, four young men stand in orange saffron shawls and white garments, several wearing orange and gold-coloured beaded garlands; one stands in white with an orange shawl at the far right. Seated devotees and onlookers fill the background, and paper decorations, hanging lanterns and a framed picture adorn the walls. Brass conch shells rest on the mat in front of the women.

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Outdoor covered hall during a ritual. Four young men stand behind a long metal table in orange saffron shawls over white clothes, hands in anjali, with rudraksha malas around their necks. Along the table lie rows of brass oil lamps, some lit, and brass bells. Six women in white saris sit on a mat in front of the table, hands folded in prayer, with large brass bowls near them. Behind, a seated crowd watches. Hanging decorations, toy-like ornaments and a wall board with photos and text frame the scene.2008-12-24A photograph of women in white saris with red and gold borders kneeling on a mat before a long metal table, lighting rows of brass oil lamps and a tiered brass lamp with flames. Brass gongs and several standing brass lamps lie along the mat. Behind the table, four men in saffron/orange robes with beaded necklaces and a man in white with an orange shawl stand watching, and a seated crowd of devotees fills the background. A small brass lamp sits on each table edge. The setting is a whitewashed courtyard.2008-12-24A photograph of an outdoor temple-style ritual under a corrugated metal roof. Four men stand at a raised metal counter lifting oil lamps and bells: three wear saffron/orange dhotis and shawls with beaded necklaces, and the fourth on the far right wears white clothes with an orange shawl. Seated on a mat in front are six women in white and cream saris, several holding bells, and a row of polished brass bells, lamp stands and a conch-shaped brass vessel lies on the floor. Behind them a seated audience watches. A printed banner hangs on the wall and colourful toy-like decorations hang from the ceiling on the right. This appears to be an aarti with handbells during a festival celebration.2008-12-24A covered outdoor hall where four young men in saffron-orange shawls and white shirts stand behind a long metal-topped table, holding lit oil lamps and brass lamps. One man at the far right wears a white kurta with an orange shawl and holds a lamp. Several women in white saris with gold borders sit cross-legged on a mat in front, hands pressed together in prayer or seated beside rows of brass oil lamps and a brass bell. Behind them, a seated audience fills the hall, and a hanging mobile of small colourful figures decorates the ceiling. Paper decorations and a framed picture hang on the wall.2008-12-24A photograph of a ritual aarti performed under a corrugated roof at an ashram hall. Four men in saffron-orange robes with orange shawls and gold beaded necklaces stand at the back, raising lit oil lamps and ringing handbells. A fifth man in white with an orange shawl stands at the right, holding a bell aloft, and another figure in white stands at the far left holding a lamp. Seated women in white saris line a long metal table in front, with rows of brass oil lamps, bells and a brass plate on the floor. A seated audience fills the background, and a colourful hanging mobile and garlands decorate the ceiling.2008-12-24Photo of a ritual aarti performed in an open-sided hall with a corrugated metal roof. Five young men stand in a row raising brass oil lamps with lit flames, four in saffron-orange robes and orange shawls with beaded necklaces and one in white with an orange shawl. Behind them a seated audience watches. In front, several women in white saris with black rudraksha-style necklaces sit on a mat beside rows of polished brass lamps, bells and a brass kalasha-style lamp stand. Colourful hanging decorations and a banner are visible on the back wall.2008-12-24A photo of a lamp-lighting ritual on a mat in an open courtyard. Several women in white and cream saris sit cross-legged in a row, tending rows of brass oil lamps and tall tiered lamp stands, one holding a lit flame. Behind them a metal-topped table holds more brass lamps. Standing at the back, young men wear saffron-orange cloths over white garments, and several wear beaded necklaces. Onlookers stand in the background. The scene is a lamp-lighting ceremony in an ashram courtyard.2008-12-24A ritual aarti scene under a corrugated roof at an ashram hall. Five men stand in a row raising lit oil lamps or flames; four wear saffron/orange dhotis and shawls with beaded necklaces, and one at the far right wears white with an orange shawl. Before them, six women in white and cream saris sit cross-legged behind a long table lined with brass oil lamps, a brass kalasha and small brass vessels, with one woman at the right with hands folded in prayer. A seated crowd watches in the background, and a garlanded red and white decorative hanging and paper lanterns hang above. A poster-like picture is on the back wall.2008-12-24A photograph of a ritual aarti being performed in a covered open hall with a corrugated metal roof and white walls. Several young men in white dhotis with orange shawls stand behind a long table holding large brass lamps with flaming wicks. Along the floor in front, many seated women and girls in white saris and white dress hold brass oil lamps and bells in rows. On the right, a seated figure wearing an orange-red garment and a white turban sits beside a decorated multicolored canopy with a gold finial. Seated devotees in the foreground and at the edges watch the puja. Shelves with white T-shirts and framed pictures line the back wall.2008-12-29December 27 20082008-12-27December 31 20082008-12-31A covered outdoor temple-style area during a ritual. Four men in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls stand along a long metal table, holding lit lamps aloft and ringing handbells; one of them wears a marigold garland. A younger man in white with an orange shawl stands at the far right holding a bell and lamp. Women in white saris sit cross-legged on a mat in front, surrounded by polished brass oil lamps, a tall brass lamp stand and brass bowls. Seated devotees fill the background. Hanging plastic toy-like ornaments and a red garland decorate the ceiling, and a framed picture hangs on the white wall. A ritual aarti-style offering of lamps is underway.2008-12-24