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A photograph of a temple homa at Melmalaiyanur Sri Angala Parameshwari Amman Temple. In the foreground a young shaved-headed priest in an orange-and-pink shawl holds a brass plate of fruit and offerings toward a fire pit, arms extended. Behind him a seated priest in white dhoti sits on the floor. Brass oil lamps, a decorated deity murti draped in blue cloth and garlanded with red and pink flowers stand at the back. Several devotees sit in the background, including a man with rudraksha beads and a woman in blue, while a bare-chested man in the right background sits near a pile of pooja materials. Dried grass and offerings lie on the floor.

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2001 - Glimpses From Various Programs2001-01-01A photograph of a temple ritual in progress. In the foreground a young priest in an orange-saffron shawl over bare shoulders and a rudraksha mala reaches forward with both hands, holding a metal vessel over a decorated deity murti draped in blue cloth and flower garlands. Behind him a second priest in white dhoti sits and performs the rite. A brass lamp stands at the top, and a platter of offerings with banana leaves, fruit and a lit cup sits in the lower foreground. Devotees in white and red saris watch from the side. The scene appears to be an abhishekam or puja in a temple setting.2001-01-012001 - Glimpses From Various Programs2001-01-01A photograph of a homa at a temple shrine. In the foreground a young man with a shaved head, wearing an orange-saffron cloth draped over his shoulder and a white dhoti, holds out a metal vessel toward a fire pit. A bare-chested man in a white dhoti sits cross-legged nearby with hands joined in front of him. Behind them stands an ornate deity murti decorated with pink and red flower garlands, placed on a blue draped platform. Brass oil lamps stand beside the offerings, and a bowl of banana, fruit and coconut sits near the fire. A man in a white shirt and other devotees in saris watch from the background. The flames burn in the fire pit at lower right.2001-01-01A homa is being performed at night inside a temple, with a sacred fire burning at lower right. A young man in saffron-orange robes sits on a deerskin-like mat at left, holding a metal plate of fruit, sticks and offerings with raised hands. A shirtless man in white dhoti sits cross-legged at centre with palms pressed together in prayer, beside a kalasha-like brass vessel draped in blue cloth and decorated with pink flowers. Brass oil lamps stand nearby, and a bowl of banana and offerings sits before the fire. Devotees in white and dark clothing sit in the background.2001-01-01January 12 20152015-01-12Night ritual photograph with a shaved-headed priest in saffron-orange robes and a saffron head cloth, a white tilak on his forehead and a gold bead necklace, holding a brass tray of yellow flowers and offerings. Behind him stands a dark deity murti beside a red and gold patterned cloth, and banana leaves hang overhead with string lights. Brass oil lamps with lit flames stand in the foreground. At left, a person in white holds a lamp, and pineapples sit in woven baskets at right, consistent with a puja or aarti.2009-09-26July 16 20152015-07-16Night outdoor homa ceremony under a decorated pavilion with green leaf festoons and string lights at the right. A bald priest in saffron-orange robes, a saffron head covering and a long rudraksha-style bead necklace stands centre-right, holding a brass tray of red fruits and bananas. A young assistant in white kurta with a yellow shawl stands beside him holding bundled sticks. Brass vessels, a tall brass lamp and a kalasha sit on the altar, with marigold petals scattered before it. Figures in orange and yellow shawls sit in the foreground, partly visible at the edges.2009-09-26July 18 20152015-07-18 +1 copiesNight-time temple aarti scene. In the foreground, two shaved-headed priests with bare upper bodies wear rudraksha malas and yellow-orange flower garlands; the nearer priest holds a brass tray with a lit camphor flame, sliced coconut pieces and offerings. Behind them, a man in a white dhoti stands among onlookers near stone pillars, and an elderly man in glasses is at the left edge. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person from appearance.2011-11-29December 12 20162016-12-12