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A group ritual scene with participants seated on orange cloths on the floor. Several men in white dhotis and shawls with red-bordered trim sit behind, ringing small brass handbells and holding open books. In the foreground, a bald man in orange robes with a red border and a rudraksha mala holds a small brass bell and a spoon-like implement; beside him a man with short dark hair and a wristwatch sits in orange with a rudraksha mala, and at the right a bald man in orange with spectacles and a long gold-bead necklace holds a bell. Brass plates of flower petals, small brass cups and a plastic basin sit on the cloths.

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A seated group of ritual participants during a puja on a tiled floor. In the foreground, several men in saffron-orange robes with maroon borders sit cross-legged on orange mats, with rudraksha malas and brass lamps and bowls set before them. The central man wears a saffron robe, a gold-and-bead necklace with a pendant, and a red tilak on his forehead; his hands rest together in his lap. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and white shirts with sandalwood markings on their chests sit with palms joined or hands folded. Brass plates hold fruit, flowers and small bowls. An open book lies on the right. Four people are prominent in the front and many more are visible behind.2010-10-18 +1 copiesIndoor group ritual on white floor mats with orange cloth. A central man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged, holding a lit oil lamp aloft in his right hand and a small brass bell in his left, with a white forehead marking. Around him several men in white dhotis with maroon borders sit and hold lit lamps, one ringing a bell, with brass plates of yellow grains, brass kalasha-style vessels, a small brass lamp and an open book nearby. Several people in the group wear white ritual dress; one wears a white shawl. The scene reads as a puja or aarti in progress.2010-11-23A seated group of monastic devotees in saffron and orange robes sits on orange mats on a polished floor, with small brass pots, cups and plates of offerings arranged before them. The central figure, bald and wearing glasses with a rudraksha mala, sits cross-legged with hands joined low over a small brass vessel. Beside him, a monk with a shaved head and white tripundra markings on forehead and arms holds an open book on a red cloth. Behind, men in white dhotis and shawls, some with tilak and malas, sit in a row. Brass lamps and incense stand on the floor, and a wooden stand with an open book is visible at right.2010-10-22 +1 copiesOctober 26 20102010-10-26A seated priest in an orange-saffron robe with a rudraksha mala and a small pendant holds a brass cup and a handbell during a ritual on an orange mat. Brass plates with flowers and small brass vessels surround him. Behind him, several men in white dhotis and shawls with red and gold borders sit and perform ritual actions, one holding a brass bell, with a book open on the floor. Plastic containers and a phone rest in the foreground.2010-10-27Photograph of a seated group of saffron-robed priests performing a puja at floor level on orange mats. In the foreground, a bald man with a grey beard and gold necklace holds a small leaf or bowl, and beside him a man in a dark-maroon-bordered saffron cloth with rudraksha beads offers from a bowl. Brass plates, cups and lamps with flower petals and white offerings are arranged on the mats before them. Behind, several men in white dhotis with white and red forehead and body markings sit with hands joined. A soft glow of oil lamps lights the hall.2010-10-19Several saffron-robed monks sit cross-legged on a white marble floor during a ritual. The nearest man in the foreground has eyes closed and hands folded, wearing an orange cloth with gold border and a rudraksha mala. Beside him a bald man with white tilak on his forehead reads from a sheet of paper. Further right, another bald monk with white forehead markings sits in orange robes. Behind them, figures in white dhotis with gold borders sit with hands folded. In front are brass oil lamps, small silver and brass cups, a kalasha-style vessel, flower petals, and orange cloths laid on the floor as puja offerings.2013-01-29A photograph of a seated group performing a puja ritual on a white marble floor. In the foreground, a man with grey-streaked hair and a beard wears an orange robe and a long beaded necklace, seated on an orange mat with his hands near brass plates and offerings. Beside him, a bald man in an orange robe and gold-beaded necklace sits with his hands raised toward a small brass lamp and offerings. Further right, two younger men in orange robes and rudraksha malas hold ritual implements over brass dishes of flowers, fruit and grains. Behind them, rows of men in white dhotis and white shawls, marked with white tilaka and sandalwood lines, sit with books and brass vessels. Offerings of fruit, flowers, betel leaves and small oil lamps are arranged on brass trays and red cloths.2010-10-16October 04 20112011-10-04A row of seated men in saffron-orange robes perform a ritual puja on a white tiled floor. The nearest man, shaved-headed with white forehead markings and round glasses, holds a small brass spoon or lamp and bends over a metal vessel. Beside him, others in orange with gold-bordered cloth, rudraksha malas and bangles hold brass vessels and offerings. Orange cloth mats hold red flower petals, bananas, a brass lamp and small copper cups. Several more seated figures in white and orange are partly visible at the left and back. A pink basket sits at the lower left.2011-09-22A seated group of men performs a ritual in an ashram hall. In the foreground, a man with a greying beard and a gold-beaded necklace sits with palms pressed together, wearing a saffron garment with a maroon border. Beside him, another saffron-clad man with a shaved head and gold necklace extends his hand over a brass plate of offerings. Behind them, several saffron-robed men sit on orange mats, and further back, men in white dhotis and white shawls with rudraksha malas and sandalwood marks sit in rows. Brass plates with flowers, fruit, kumkum and brass lamps and vessels sit on the mats, and an open book rests on the floor. This appears to be a padapuja-style puja setting.2010-10-16Photograph of a seated ritual in a temple hall with devotees in white dhotis and white shawls behind, many holding small oil lamps lit with flames. In the foreground two men in saffron-orange robes with red borders sit cross-legged on orange mats. The man at left, with short hair and rudraksha beads, holds a lit lamp and a small brass bell. The man at right, bald with glasses, wears a heavy gold ceremonial necklace with a pendant and a red tilak, holds a lit lamp and a bell, and reads from an open book. Brass plates with flower petals, a kalasha-style vessel and offerings sit on red cloth before them, indicating a puja.2010-10-16