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Outdoor photo of a ritual at a temple-style courtyard, with a golden ratha-like chariot and a raised platform behind. Two young men in white dhotis with orange shawls sit on the ground at left, one holding a metal vessel and the other seated beside it, with incense smoke rising. In front of them are a small deity murti or image garlanded with flower strands, brass oil lamps, fruit, bananas, and a brick-and-white sand-lined fire pit area. Seated at right are several people in white clothes watching: a man in white shirt and glasses, an older man, and women in saris. Three posters of a bearded-white-turbaned figure, labelled in Tamil, are displayed on the chariot and a stand; the portrait figures are depictions, not physical people. A Tamil-labelled poster reads as a portrait caption. Visible physical people number roughly a dozen.

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October 25 20062006-10-25Outdoor ritual at a temple courtyard with palm trees. A golden ratha procession vehicle carries two garlanded deity murtis, with a figure in white standing near its base and a yellow-framed portrait on the side. Large framed portraits on the vehicle and beside it show a figure in white with a head covering and an orange-turbaned figure. In the foreground, two young priests in white dhotis with orange shawls sit before a brick fire pit (homa) with flames and offerings, and a garlanded deity murti rests on the bricks. Seated devotees in white clothes and saris watch on mats. A brass oil lamp stands at the edge. A man in white stands in the background near a white shrine.2006-10-25October 25 20062006-10-25Outdoor temple procession scene in Tamil Nadu. A golden ratha-style palanquin with a gilded canopy and stepped platform holds two deity murtis draped with garlands, one wearing a tall crown and the other a red and gold sari-style garment. Framed portraits are mounted on the cart and on poles; one shows a figure in white head cloth and dark clothes. In the foreground, devotees in white with orange shawls perform a puja beside a kalasha, brass lamps and a flower-garlanded arrangement on a green mat. Seated onlookers, many in white and pastel saris, watch from the right. A white temple building with striped red-and-white walls and a tiled roof stands behind. Two figures in the cart's immediate vicinity are not clearly identifiable and no in-person candidate is confidently visible among the ritual participants.2006-10-25Outdoor ratha yatra scene at a temple courtyard in Tamil Nadu. A golden ornate palanquin-style chariot carries two deity murtis adorned with white and red garlands, with a tall golden lamp and yellow cloth in front. Along the chariot's sides and beside it are framed portraits of a bearded man in white turban and robes, labelled in Tamil. Near a brick fire pit with burning embers, two priests in white dhotis and orange shawls perform rituals, with a kalasha and flower-garlanded offerings. A standing man in white dhoti and shirt stands beside the shrine structure, while seated devotees in white sit at right, one with a plate. Palm trees and a tiled-roof shrine complete the setting.2006-10-25Outdoor homa or puja ceremony at a temple site. Two priests in white dhotis with orange shoulder cloths sit at a fire pit with a flame and offerings, one holding a ladle. A large crowd of devotees, many in white shirts and saris, sits on the ground with hands folded in namaskar. Behind them, a gilded ratha-style platform holds two deity murtis garlanded with flowers. Several framed portraits hang on the platform and nearby, showing a man in white with a white turban. A white temple shrine stands to the right, and a woman in an orange sari stands near the platform.2006-10-25Three men stand with palms pressed together in namaskar before a golden ratha-style decorated vehicle in an open dusty lot. The vehicle has a canopied golden structure with steps, garlanded deity murti, marigold and flower garlands, a flower tray and orange flags. Several posters on the vehicle show a smiling bearded figure in white turban, orange turban and dark robes, with printed Tamil captions. Behind are multi-storey buildings and a blue sky. The three men wear white dhotis and shirts and a pink shirt with dhoti.2006-10-12October 25 20062006-10-25A photograph of an outdoor Hindu ceremony at a temple precinct in Tamil Nadu. In the foreground a seated audience of women in saris and salwar kameez, one with a long braid, faces a puja arrangement on the ground with brass lamps, a kalasha-style vessel and a garland. A man in an orange shawl with a rudraksha mala-like cord kneels near the offerings. Behind them, men in white dhotis and shirts stand with folded hands, one holding a child. A large ornate golden ratha/chariot stands to the right with steps, orange flags and portrait photographs of a bearded, turbaned figure mounted on its sides. A temple gopuram with painted deity sculptures rises behind, along with a red-and-white striped pavilion. Printed banners on the chariot carry text and a vehicle number plate is visible. The sky is overcast.2006-10-25Outdoor temple courtyard scene in Tamil Nadu. A golden ratha-style chariot shrine with a canopy stands at center, carrying two deity murtis adorned with garlands, one with a crown-like headdress; a pair of cloth-draped figures sit within. Two priests in white dhotis with orange shawls sit on a green mat before a small fire, a steel pot and offerings, as devotees in white shirts, saris and salwars sit in rows on the ground, many with folded hands. Flags with saffron tips and banners showing portraits are mounted on the chariot and nearby. Palm trees and a multi-tiered gopuram stand in the background. Several people stand at left, including a child held on a hip. The chariot is decorated with panels labeled with a vehicle registration plate reading TN 30 E 6575, and the portrait banners show a person in white with a tall head covering. Ritual activity appears to be a puja by the chariot.2006-10-25A crowd of devotees, mostly women and children, reach their hands toward a small flame on the decorated platform of a procession chariot. A young man in an orange-saffron shawl over white clothes stands at the centre, tending the lamp. Behind him, a man in white dhoti and kurta bends over a deity murti adorned with pink and white garlands and gold ornaments. A framed printed portrait on a stand shows a smiling man in a white head wrap, garlanded with red flowers, and a video camera operator stands at the right edge. A metal dish and a silver vessel sit on the platform near the lamp.2006-10-24November 11 20062006-11-11 +1 copies