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A 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.

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A 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 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 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.2008-12-24Outdoor-style covered hall with corrugated metal roof during a ritual with brass oil lamps. Four men in orange saffron dhotis and shawls with ceremonial gold necklaces stand in a row raising lit brass lamps overhead, while a man in white with an orange shawl on the far right raises a lamp and holds a bell. Seated along a long metal table, several women in white saris and white clothes with red borders tend tall brass lamps, a bell and brass vessels. A crowd of seated devotees watches from behind. Hanging decorations, a colourful mobile of toys and a framed picture are visible on the walls. This is a photograph of an aarti-style lamp offering in progress.2008-12-24A 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.2008-12-24Outdoor 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 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.2008-12-24Photo of a group ritual inside an open-sided hall with a corrugated roof. Along a long metal-topped table, several devotees sit on the floor in white clothes beside rows of brass oil lamps and brass bells. Behind them, four men in saffron-orange robes and white-clad men with orange shawls raise brass lamps or bells toward the ceiling, performing an aarti. Seated devotees in white watch and fold hands. Garlands of red and orange fabric and hanging paper decorations hang above, with a printed banner on the back wall. a person is not clearly visible; the central figures are priests and devotees.2008-12-24A ritual aarti or puja in a decorated hall with a long metal table covered by a green mat. Three young men in saffron-orange robes with gold beaded necklaces stand behind the table, holding brass bells and lamps and raising their arms. A fourth man in white clothes with an orange shawl holds a brass bell at the right end. Five women in white saris sit on the floor at the front with rows of brass oil lamps, a brass kalasha and small brass implements arranged before them. Festoons of red and orange cloth and paper decorations hang from the ceiling, and a seated crowd of devotees watches from behind. Framed photographs and banners are on the back wall.2008-12-24Outdoor-style covered hall with corrugated metal roof during a ritual. Four men in saffron-orange dhotis, orange shawls and gold necklaces raise lit oil lamps and bells overhead. Beside them, a line of women in white saris with red or gold borders sit behind a long metal table, tending rows of brass oil lamps and bells. Behind them, a seated audience watches. A colourful hanging decoration of toy-like figures and red garlands hangs at right, and a framed picture and a printed banner are on the back wall. Lit wicks and brass lamps fill the foreground.2008-12-24A photograph of a covered outdoor ritual hall where several devotees perform aarti with lit oil lamps. Four men stand in the centre and right wearing saffron/orange dhoti-style garments and orange shawls, one raises a flaming lamp and others hold bells and lamps; a man in white dhoti with an orange shawl raises a flaming lamp at far right, and a woman in white with an orange shawl does the same at left. Seated women in white saris with red or gold borders and rudraksha-style beaded necklaces tend rows of brass lamps and bell-shaped vessels on a long metal table in front. Behind them a seated audience fills the hall, and the walls show a small framed picture, colourful bead garlands and a hanging mobile of toys.2008-12-24