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A photograph of a ritual abhishekam at a Shiva lingam, with white powder or substance being poured over the stone form. A man stands at left with long dark braided hair under a rust-red turban, wearing a rust-red wrap, gold armband and beaded bracelets, his arm extended over the lingam. At right, a figure in a pink-and-gold embellished garment with heavy crystal-studded jewelled ornaments and a gold armlet stands beside the lingam. Behind them are golden hands, a glittering deity murti and floral garlands, with a small oil lamp flame at lower right.

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February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A photo of a ritual abhishekam at night. A figure with long dark hair wrapped in a rust-red turban and rust-red cloth, with rudraksha beads on the arm, pours white powder from a large golden ceremonial plate onto a white heap at the base of a deity murti. The murti wears gold ornaments and an embellished red-and-gold sari-style garment; gold hands and jewelled armlets are visible. Behind is a backdrop of colourful flower garlands in yellow, red, and green. The figure's identity cannot be confirmed from appearance, so they are described by role as the officiating priest.2017-02-24February 24 20172017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam in which white powder is poured over a large white lingam-shaped form on a base. A figure in a rust-orange wrap, with long dark braided hair and beaded bracelets, holds a silver plate and pours the powder from above. Beside them, a second person wears a maroon brocade blouse and a long skirt with heavy silver jewelled necklaces. Gold ritual objects and a lit lamp are visible at the lower edge. The white powder falls in a fine cloud across the scene.2017-02-24A figure with long dark locks, a saffron-orange wrap and bare upper back stands at left, pouring white powder over a shivalinga-like stone at a dark pedestal. The figure wears a coral-red headband, and bracelets on the raised arm. Behind, a deity murti in gold ornaments, jewelled crown and maroon-gold silk stands beside a garlanded altar draped with yellow, white and red flowers. A small oil lamp flame is visible at lower right. Powder covers the base of the lingam in a heap. The setting suggests an abhishekam with flowers and lamps.2017-02-24A photograph of a Shiva lingam being bathed with white liquid poured from a conch-shaped vessel held by a figure in the foreground. The figure wears an orange-rust robe, a matching orange head wrap, a rudraksha bracelet and gold bangles, and has long dreadlocked hair falling down the back. Behind the lingam stands a large deity murti with gold arms and jewelled ornaments, draped in a rust and gold sari-like garment, with garlands of yellow, red and white flowers framing the background. The scene suggests an abhishekam, a ritual bathing of the lingam. The image is a stock-style temple photo, and the visible figure is not clearly identifiable as a specific person.2017-02-24A close photograph of a ritual pouring white powder. The figure on the left wears a rust-orange wrap, a rudraksha mala on the bare arm and a gold bracelet; the adjacent figure on the right wears a red and gold brocade garment with ornate silver-and-gold embroidered jewelled collar and a gold sandal-like footwear. A flame of an oil lamp glows at the lower right edge. Only partial bodies are visible, and no face is shown. Appearance does not clearly establish a person candidate, so the person role is described as priest and devotee.2017-02-24A ritual abhishekam in a temple setting: a man with long dreadlocked hair, a rust-red headband, and a rust-red draped cloth over bare shoulders pours a white substance from a large round silver vessel over a deity murti. The murti is adorned with gold jewellery, jewelled necklaces, and a rust and gold brocade garment. Garlands of yellow and red flowers frame the scene, and a brass oil lamp with a lit flame sits in the lower right. Another attendant in rust-red stands beside the murti, and a devotee's head is visible in the foreground.2017-02-24A photograph of a ritual abhishekam in progress at close range. A person seen from behind wears a rust-red wrap and has long black dreadlocked hair falling down the back, with a beaded bracelet on the wrist. They pour a fine white powder or milk-white substance from a round silver plate with a radiating sunburst design onto a mound of the same white material. Beside them stands a figure in an ornate dress of bronze-gold brocade with a red-and-gold patterned skirt, wearing heavy jewelled necklaces, shoulder ornaments and gold armlets. Strands of red and white flower garlands fill the background. The person pouring is partially visible; the decorated figure may be a murti or a costumed representation.2017-02-24A ceremonial abhishekam scene in a temple setting. A man with long dark dreadlocks, a rust-red headwrap and a rust-red cloth wrapped at his waist, bare-chested and wearing rudraksha bracelets, pours white powder from a silver plate onto a white shivalinga-shaped stone. Behind him, a gilded deity murti adorned with jewelled ornaments and a crown stands beside a figure in a maroon and gold silk blouse with a heavy jewelled necklace and a long gold-bordered skirt. A brass oil lamp burns at the lower right, and floral garlands decorate the background.2017-02-24