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Night-time temple ritual photographed from behind. A bare-chested priest in a red-and-gold dhoti and gold-bordered shawl, with a rudraksha mala at his neck, stands before an ornate decorated palanquin or shrine platform. The structure is draped in white and red flower garlands, green leaves, a pink cloth, and a gold-ornamented deity murti topped by a crown-like finial with two golden birds. Painted figures and a lion-faced figure decorate the base. The priest holds a plate or offering tray while attending the deity, with a lit temple hall in the background.

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November 25 20142014-11-25November 25 20142014-11-25A night photograph of a ritual at a decorated ceremonial cart or altar. A man seen from behind, shirtless with a red-and-gold cloth draped over his shoulder and a red-and-gold waist cloth, raises his arm to touch a tall golden kalasha-like finial wrapped in white jasmine garlands and red flowers. The structure has carved wooden tiers, a pink draped cloth, and small offering pots decorated with gold and red beads, with leaves and flowers. A seated figure of a sage with a white beard appears at the lower right. Smoke or haze hangs in the dark background, with a small light at left.2014-11-25November 25 20142014-11-25November 25 20142014-11-25Night ritual photograph of a priest from behind, bare-shouldered, wearing a rust-red dhoti with gold border and a red rudraksha-style mala, extending his right arm to pour or sprinkle from a small vessel onto a tiered decorated altar. The altar is topped by a kalasha with white jasmine garlands, red flower garlands and a pink cloth; below are gold-and-red ornamented pots, leafy mango-leaf bundles, a pink lotus-shaped base and small painted figures of seated sages with white beards. The background is dark and a red-and-white striped wall is visible at left. The scene suggests an abhishekam or puja offering to a deity murti, though no deity form is clearly identifiable.2014-11-25A night-time ritual scene of a man seen from behind, shaved-headed and bare-shouldered, wearing a rust-red dhoti with a gold border and a red-brown shawl, a rudraksha mala around his neck and a small hoop earring. He extends his right arm holding a stick of incense or lamp toward an elaborate wooden peetha-style altar draped with white and red flower garlands and a kalasha-topped crown. Behind the altar stands a deity murti in pink drapery, and at the base are small seated figures with folded hands, garlanded with green leaves and marigold-like offerings. A white and red striped cloth hangs at left. The setting is a puja or aarti at night.2014-11-25A photograph taken at night of a priest seen from behind, bare-chested with a red-maroon and gold-bordered cloth draped over his shoulder, raising one arm high while holding a small ornate object aloft. He stands before a decorated altar with two seated figurines in red and white, potted plants with green leaves, and a pink and white draped piece. Behind him a lit deity murti or shrine glows warmly with lamps. The scene suggests an evening puja or aarti with the priest offering a raised item, though the exact ritual is not clearly identifiable.2014-11-25Night-time photo of a priest in a rust-red dhoti with a gold-bordered shawl raising a lit camphor flame on a brass aarti lamp toward a decorated deity murti. The murti sits on a tiered wooden peetha with a kalasha-like vase, white and red flower garlands, green leaves and lion carvings at the base. Another person in white with a rudraksha mala bends forward at the lower left. Striped red and white wall behind.2014-11-25November 25 20142014-11-25August 21 20142014-08-21A night-time outdoor ritual photograph. A bare-chested priest in a red and gold dhoti and shawl stands at the front of an elaborately painted stepped platform, raising a silver-and-white decorated kalasha topped with a garland and green leaves high overhead with his right arm. Two painted lions flank the platform base, and a painted Ganesha figure sits on the right. On the left, a man in white ritual cloth with a rudraksha mala holds a brass vessel and looks upward. Behind the platform, an illuminated deity murti in a colourful decorated shrine glows against the dark background. Pink lotus shapes and leaves decorate the platform sides.2014-11-25