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A temple ritual in a crowded shrine hall with colourful painted pillars and yellow and orange cloth canopies. Two deity murtis are decorated with heavy garlands of marigolds and red flowers. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and a rudraksha mala holds a round brass tray with offerings. Beside him, a bearded man in a saffron-orange garment and mala gestures with a raised finger. Another bare-chested man with his back to the camera stands in front of the tray. Behind them, a large seated crowd of devotees watches, many women wearing saris and men in white shirts. A photographer's camera is visible at the lower left, and a priest in a white dhoti stands on a raised platform at the back.

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Photograph inside a South Indian temple hall during a ritual. Central foreground: a bald man in bare-chested white dhoti with orange-yellow shawl, rudraksha mala and sandalwood-marked forehead, holding a brass plate and turning toward the altar. Beside him a bearded man with white-marked forehead and rudraksha mala stands bare-chested in a white dhoti with yellow shawl. A third man with his back to camera wears a white cloth. Behind them, decorated deity murtis are garlanded with red and white flower garlands on an illuminated altar framed by painted pillars with yellow and red finials. Onlookers in saris and shirts fill the hall, and a cameraman stands near the altar. Lamps, banana leaves and flowers decorate the scene.2012-04-05Temple ritual in a South Indian shrine hall with a richly decorated deity murti, adorned with flower garlands and a yellow-gold cloth, set against red-and-yellow painted pillars and hanging banana leaves. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in an orange-and-green dhoti and rudraksha mala holds a brass tray of offerings, while two bare-chested assistants in white dhotis stand beside him. Several seated devotees in saris and shirts watch from the floor. Garlands and flowers are arranged on the ground in front of the priest.2012-04-05A temple ritual in a richly decorated shrine hall. In the centre, a bald priest with glasses, rudraksha mala and saffron cloth over his shoulder holds a brass tray with offerings while a bare-chested assistant stands before him. Behind them, two deity murtis are dressed in gold and red with garlands of yellow and red flowers and tall decorative pillars. A man in white dhoti and gold chain stands at the upper right, and a seated crowd in front wears white shirts and colourful saris. Brass lamps and a lamp stand are visible at the right.2012-04-05April 05 20122012-04-05Photograph inside a temple hall during a worship ceremony before a decorated deity murti shrine. The central deity murti is garlanded with bright flower garlands, flanked by two smaller garlanded murtis, with a tiered colourful canopy and yellow and red decorative hangings. In the foreground, several shaven-headed priests in white dhotis stand bare-chested, one wearing a rudraksha-style necklace, while a young man in a white dhoti stands beside them. A woman in a dark top and a man in a white shirt and a bare-chested figure face the shrine. A brass oil lamp and a bundle of flowers rest on the floor. A large crowd of devotees, many women in saris and men in white and coloured shirts, sits and stands along the sides of the hall. Banana leaves and palm fronds decorate the pillars.2012-04-05April 05 20122012-04-05A dense crowd of devotees fills a temple hall at night, many with palms pressed together in prayer, some seated on the floor in front. Two large deity murtis are decorated with thick garlands of red, orange and yellow flowers and stand under a tiered, illuminated canopy. Near the center, a bare-chested priest in an orange-yellow dhoti stands at the altar, while other priests in white dhotis and shawls, one bare-chested with a rudraksha mala, assist beside him. A photographer in a red-and-white checked shirt stands at the front. Tall painted pillars with yellow and purple cloth banners frame the scene, with banana leaves and offerings on the lower foreground.2012-04-05A temple shrine scene during a ritual worship. Two deity murtis are richly decorated with layered garlands of yellow, orange, red and white flowers and gold ornaments, seated before a colourful, gilded shrine canopy with red and yellow tassels. A bare-chested priest in a green-and-yellow dhoti stands centre-left, reaching toward the deities beside a red pillar, while a crowd of mostly bare-chested and white-clad devotees watches from the foreground, one holding a camera. Oil lamps and brass vessels sit near the deities.2012-04-05April 05 20122012-04-05A photograph inside an ornately decorated temple hall with red and yellow striped canopies and tall multicoloured pillars. Two large deity murtis are heavily garlanded with marigold and red flower strands. A bald priest with a bare upper body and a green-and-gold silk cloth performs an aarti with a lit lamp before the central deity. Behind him a man in white dhoti stands at left, and a shirtless man in white dhoti holds a bowl of offerings at the lower centre. Devotees with folded hands crowd the front. A photographer in a red checked shirt films the ritual. Smoke rises from the lamps and the scene is lit by electric bulbs.2012-04-05April 05 20122012-04-05A crowded temple hall at night during a ritual, with devotees seated on the stone floor and many standing around them. In the centre a man in a white shirt and black trousers stands facing a priest in white dhoti with an orange-bordered shawl. Behind them a shirtless man in a dhoti sits near a small blue stool holding offerings, and bananas leaves and a rainbow-striped cloth hang from the pillars. On the right a deity murti is decorated with garlands of red and yellow flowers. Several women wear saffron and orange saris, and a bare-headed man in orange clothing sits at left. Brass plates and bowls of grains and flowers are laid out on the floor.2012-04-05