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A 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.

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A 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 covered outdoor temple courtyard shows a row of women in white saris seated on mats, tending long rows of brass oil lamps and lit lamps arranged in front of them, with brass bells and a large brass plate at the right. Behind them, four standing men wear saffron/orange shawls and garlands, with one man in white clothes and an orange shawl at the far right, standing at a raised wooden platform. White walls, a corrugated metal roof and a red pillar frame the scene.2008-12-24Outdoor ritual scene under a corrugated metal roof at an ashram. Seven women sit cross-legged in a row on a mat, wearing white saris with coloured borders, each tending a long line of brass oil lamps (deepas) laid along the floor, with a large brass bell-like vessel near them. Behind them, men in orange saffron robes and white dhotis hold up lit multi-tiered brass aarti lamps and lamp stands with flames, standing along a metal-railed platform. Devotees sit in the background. Coloured paper decorations and a hanging mobile of small figurines are visible at the upper right, and a painted white wall with a small blue sign is at the left. The scene suggests a lamp-lighting aarti or deepa puja.2008-12-24A photo of a temple hall where women in white traditional dress with orange borders sit on a mat lighting rows of brass multi-tiered oil lamps, their flames lit, arranged in a long line on the floor. Behind a steel counter, several young men in orange robes with beaded necklaces stand in a row, one holding a brass bell. Yellow and white hanging decorations and fluorescent lights hang above, with framed pictures on the wall and a blue sign reading Shree Dhyanapeetham and Shiva-related notices. Brass vessels and bells sit on the counter.2008-12-30A 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.2008-12-24December 31 20082008-12-31A covered outdoor ritual space where four men in saffron-orange shawls and orange-and-gold beaded necklaces raise lit oil lamps (aarti) with both arms, while a fifth man in white clothing and an orange shawl at the far left also holds a lamp. Seated in front of a long table are several women in white saris with gold borders, beside rows of polished brass lamps, a brass kalasha-like vessel and a large brass bowl. Behind them a seated audience fills the hall, and hanging decorations with small toy figures and red garlands are visible on the right. a person is not clearly identifiable among the men.2008-12-24A photograph of a covered outdoor courtyard during a temple ritual. In the foreground, a row of women in white saris sit on a mat, tending a long line of brass oil lamps and multi-tiered brass lamp stands with lit flames, with large brass bowls beside them. Behind them, a raised black table runs along the back wall where several men stand: some in saffron-orange shawls with rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, one in a white shirt with an orange shawl. A cameraman in white clothing stands at the left edge filming. The corrugated roof, white walls and a small framed picture are visible in the background.2008-12-24Photograph of a temple aarti ceremony under a corrugated metal roof. Six people stand in a row holding tall brass lamps with lit flames on their tiers; most wear orange or saffron garments and white, and one wears white with an orange shawl. Seated before them on a mat, several women in white saris with gold-toned accessories play rows of brass bells and handheld cymbals. Behind, a large seated crowd of devotees in white watches, and a hanging ornament decorates the shrine area. Mention of a children's festival is not visible in the scene.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.2008-12-24December 27 20082008-12-27A row of women in white sarees with gold borders sits cross-legged on mats, playing brass bells and small hand instruments arranged in front of them on the floor. Behind them, a standing man in orange robes holds a ritual item near his face while devotees, many in white, sit and stand in a covered hall. Brass lamps and bells are arranged on a long table to the left, and a few orange-clad figures stand near the back.2008-12-24