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Night photograph of a ritual at a temple setting decorated with hanging strands of lights and mango-leaf garlands. In the foreground a young girl in a red sari with gold border sits cross-legged before a table of fruit, bananas, flowers and kumkum and turmeric bowls. Behind her a man in white dhoti and white shawl with red borders stands bent over a wooden drum-shaped stool, while a second man in white with a yellow dhoti kneels and tends the offering. A plain ornate red-and-gold throne sits empty in the background beside brass lamps, and a row of attendants in white stands near a figure of a deity murti with a crown and multiple arms. Smoke rises from the sacred fire area and a crowd is seen at the right edge.

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Night photograph of a homa or yagna at an outdoor ritual space. Smoke rises from a fire pit at top centre under strings of leaves and small triangular pennants. On the left, a row of decorated deity murtis stands lit by strings of red fairy lights. A brass oil lamp stands in the foreground beside trays of fruit (bananas, mangoes, apples, oranges) and heaps of kumkum and turmeric. Seated in the foreground, a girl in a red sari with a long braid faces the altar. A priest in white ritual dress with red-bordered cloth stands at the altar, while another priest in white kneels at the right, and a red and gold throne stands empty behind the altar. Devotees in white and red sit in the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual under a canopy strung with leaf garlands and small triangular flags. At centre, a fire pit with flames stands before an ornate red and gold throne-like seat. A standing priest in white dhoti and white shawl with red border holds an item over the fire. A seated priest with shaved head wears a gold necklace and white clothing at right, beside a bowl of yellow powder. Several children in red and maroon dresses sit in front on a purple cloth, with fruit (limes, bananas, coconuts), brass oil lamps and kumkum-coloured offerings on trays. Decorated deity figures with floral garlands stand at left under string lights. This appears to be a homa-style fire ritual with puja offerings.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual on a raised orange-draped platform under a canopy strung with green leaves and a large golden om symbol. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border holds a lit aarti lamp toward the viewer, flame rising. A young woman in a maroon and rose saree sits cross-legged at left, holding a green fruit beside offerings of bananas, apples, tomatoes, coconuts and a watermelon. A red cushioned throne sits centrally; a seated figure in white is on it, with a few other seated devotees in white nearby. A large wooden drum-like object and brass plates sit on the platform. At left, a decorated deity murti with a red-lit backdrop and brass oil lamps stand. Several people are seated in the background.2010-10-16Night outdoor homa pavilion decorated with mango-leaf garlands, hanging cloth bunting and a circular golden ring motif. In the centre a fire pit burns on a low platform; a standing priest in white dhoti with red border holds an object at chest height. A large red-and-gold throne is occupied by a seated figure in white. Brass oil lamps stand on the left beside trays of bananas, limes, coconuts, turmeric and kumkum. Behind them a decorated deity murti with garlands. Several children in red and maroon outfits sit in front, and a bald man in white with a gold necklace sits on the right beside a brass vessel. Rows of seated devotees fill the background.2010-10-16Night ritual before a decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, shown with a golden crown and a lion mount, set in a pandal with floral arches and hanging lights. In the foreground, several young women in red and orange saris sit cross-legged on a purple cloth, with plates of fruit, bananas, a watermelon and flower offerings in front of them. To the right, a man in white dhoti and a white shawl with red borders stands beside a wooden drum-like stand, and another man in white kneels with his hands raised. Smoke rises from a lamp at the centre. Devotees in the background watch, and an ornate red and gold throne is visible.2010-10-16Night puja on an outdoor stage decorated with a string of festive lights, a large OM emblem and green leaf garlands. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with red border holds a flaming camphor aarti lamp in his right hand and a small brass bell-like vessel in his left. A young woman in a maroon blouse and maroon-and-cream sari sits cross-legged at the left, arranging fruits and flowers on a tray. Brass oil lamps, plates of bananas, limes, apples and marigold flowers surround the platform, and a deity murti stands at the far left. Behind them, a gold-trimmed red throne is occupied by a robed figure in white, while other people sit on the floor in the background.2010-10-16Night-time puja at a temple pavilion with large Durga murti figures on the left, a deity with a crown, garlands and multiple arms among them, one holding a sword. A young girl in a red and gold sari sits cross-legged on a purple cloth before a tray of fruits and offerings. On the right a priest in white dhoti with a red border stands at a homa fire, smoke rising, while another white-clad man in a yellow dhoti kneels at a wooden drum-like stand. A large red and gold throne-like chair sits in the centre, with brass oil lamps, a kalasha, banana and fruit offerings, and a watermelon in the foreground. Bunting and hanging om motifs decorate the ceiling. Many seated devotees fill the lower right.2010-10-16Night-time ritual at an open-air pandal during a Chandi Homa. In the foreground a woman in a maroon and red sari sits on the floor arranging fruit and flowers on a red cloth beside a tray of tomatoes, watermelon, bananas and green fruit. To the right a shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with red borders stands holding a small item and offering. Behind them several white-clad participants sit before a fire pit with smoke rising, and a large deity murti with red and gold garments stands on the left beside brass oil lamps. Strings of marigold garlands and triangular banners hang from the roof frame, with a crowd seated in the background.2010-10-16Night-time photograph of a ritual hall under a canopy hung with red, yellow and green pennant flags, tassel decorations and a large gold-outlined om symbol. In the foreground, a woman in a maroon blouse and patterned sari sits near offering plates of red fruit, and a second woman with long dark hair leans forward. At right, a young shaven-headed man in a white dhoti with red-bordered shawl stands with folded hands. Center background, a figure in a red garment with a crown-like headpiece sits on a gold-trimmed seat beside a tiered white altar-platform with brass vessels, while a figure in orange robes stands with hands joined. Brass lamps, marigolds, a fire-pit area with rising smoke, and seated devotees fill the scene.2010-10-16Night festival ritual under an open pavilion decorated with hanging tassels, bunting and leaf garlands. On the left, a large deity murti with multiple arms and red garments stands beside a table of fruit offerings including watermelon, bananas, apples and limes. A woman in a maroon blouse and red-and-cream saree sits cross-legged, holding a fruit, while other women in colourful sarees kneel beside her. In the centre, a priest in white dhoti and shawl stands near a wooden stand and a red-cushioned seat, and a saffron-robed figure is seen behind him. On the right, a bald man in white dhoti with a red border stands holding an object, and a seated crowd watches. Scattered petals, kumkum and offering plates cover the orange floor.2010-10-16