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Night-time temple puja before an ornately decorated deity murti on a golden peetha, the figure draped in thick garlands of yellow, red and white flowers with a crown and a tall decorated backdrop. Three priests in orange-saffron dhotis stand at left and centre: one bare-chested with white sacred markings and a gold-beaded mala, one holding a multi-tiered brass aarti lamp with burning flames, and one with hands folded beside it. A fourth priest in an orange wrap stands with his back to the camera at right, and a dark stone deity figure with a garland stands further right. Banana leaves and a plantain-style garland frame the scene, with smoke rising from the lamp.

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December 19 20162016-12-19Night temple worship before a richly garlanded deity murti decorated with red, white and yellow flower garlands and a crown. In the foreground a bare-chested priest with white sacred markings and an orange cloth around his waist holds a lit lamp toward the deity. A second priest in an orange waist cloth and a shoulder sacred thread stands with his back to the camera. Behind them a golden-framed shrine holds another decorated figure, and a black stone statue on the right wears a white dhoti and garland. Banana stalks, brass lamps and marigold garlands fill the frame.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19Temple aarti in progress before a richly decorated deity murti seated on a golden throne, its face painted and crowned, draped in red and white garlands with a gold shawl. A young priest in an orange-saffron dhoti with bare, white-painted chest and a rudraksha-style bead necklace holds a silver tiered oil lamp tray with multiple flames towards the deity. Another attendant in orange dhoti holds a plate of small lamps and offerings, while a third stands at right with hands folded, wearing a white flower garland and orange head cloth. Flower garlands in red, yellow and white drape the shrine arches, and a second decorated murti stands in an ornate silver-and-gold niche at left.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19Night-time temple ritual photograph showing a deity murti richly decorated with garlands of yellow marigolds, red roses and white flowers, with a gold crown and gold-embroidered canopy. Several young priests in the foreground wear orange and saffron cloths, white body markings and gold necklaces; one holds a brass lamp and another raises a ritual lamp near the murti. A man in a saffron-orange turban stands with his back to the camera before the decorated deity, and a dark bronze figure with garlands is at the right edge. Banana leaves frame the scene, and a gold shrine arch stands behind. This appears to be an aarti or puja at a temple shrine.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19A photograph of a temple ritual inside a tented hall. In the foreground, a young man with a tied-up topknot, bare chest, orange dhoti, a rudraksha-style orange bead necklace and a gold pendant holds a large brass multi-tiered aarti lamp with lit flames. Beside him, a priest in orange dhoti and a green-and-gold headpiece with white ash markings and a white flower garland holds his hands together in prayer. A third figure with an orange cloth on the head and bare back stands with a white flower garland. Behind them is an ornate golden and jewelled deity murti framed by garlands of white jasmine, red and yellow flowers, and banana leaves. Brass oil lamps with yellow marigold garlands stand on the red floor, and women in saris are visible in the background.2016-12-19Evening aarti at a temple-style pavilion with a golden deity murti under a decorated arch, its shrine wreathed in banana leaves, marigold garlands and red flowers. Three men in saffron-orange dhotis stand at the centre: the foremost holds a multi-tiered lamp with lit wicks and a long ritual lamp handle, the middle one wears a green-and-gold crown and white vibhuti marks, and a third man with a shaved head and orange turban faces the shrine from behind, bare-backed, wearing a white sacred thread. Black stone lingams and brass lamps line the altar, and women in saris stand at the left edge.2016-12-19Night temple ritual photograph of a deity murti decorated with dense garlands of white jasmine and yellow and red flowers, with a crown and gold ornaments, seated on a palanquin-like throne in front of a gilded arch. Two priests in orange-saffron dhotis stand before it: the nearer one, bare-chested with tilak and a beaded necklace, holds a lit aarti lamp on a tray, while a turbaned priest beside him performs namaskar with folded hands. A third attendant at right, wearing an orange cloth on his head and a white garland, also stands with hands joined. Brass oil lamps and kalasha-like vessels line the foreground, and banana leaves frame the top. This appears to be an aarti or puja at a deity procession or shrine. No identifiable a person figure is visible in this image.2016-12-19