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A photograph of a temple puja inside a shrine. An elderly bald man with white vertical tilak marks on his forehead and arms sits on the floor in a bare-chested pose, wearing a rudraksha mala around his neck, an orange-saffron dhoti with gold border, and a beaded headband. He holds a brass bell in one hand and a lit oil lamp on a metal plate, with a brass kalasha vessel nearby. Behind him is an ornate gold-framed shrine with a deity murti, pink flowers and green leaves. A standing person in white dhoti with a gold border, whose bare arm is visible, stands at left. The scene shows a puja or aarti being performed.

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A seated shaved-headed priest in an orange-saffron dhoti and bare upper body, with white sacred ash on his forehead and shoulders and a dark rudraksha mala and gold necklace, performs puja before a gilded shrine. He holds a brass bell in one hand and extends a small brass oil lamp with a lit flame toward a deity murti; pink flowers and offerings lie on the shrine ledge. A person in white stands at left, partially visible. Brass vessels and a gold-framed altar surround the scene.2012-05-14May 11 20122012-05-11A bare-chested older man in an orange-saffron dhoti with a gold border stands at a brass shrine, holding his hand over a lit brass lamp with several flames. He wears a maroon-beaded headband, a long rudraksha mala on his chest, and white ash markings on his forehead. Behind him, a white-and-gold carved arch and a gilded altar niche hold floral garlands of white and pink flowers. A man in a white dhoti stands at the right holding a brass plate. A person at the far left wears orange cloth and beaded necklaces. The scene appears to be a lamp offering or aarti at a temple shrine.2012-05-09May 08 20122012-05-08May 12 20122012-05-12A seated, bare-chested man in an orange dhoti with gold border performs puja at a golden shrine niche with a deity murti, pink and green flower offerings on a tray, and a glowing oil lamp held by another person at left. He wears rudraksha beads, white tilak markings on forehead and arms, and a gold earring, and rings a brass bell with his right hand. A gold plate holds offerings at lower left and warm lights line the shrine pillars. The man has long swept hair pulled back and a distinctive ceremonial look, but his face is not clearly enough visible to confirm identity.2012-05-12May 10 20122012-05-10Indoor temple ritual in warm lamplight. An elderly bare-chested man with a shaved head, white tilak and a dark rudraksha mala stands at a shrine, hands extended toward a flame in a small lamp on a silver stand. Beside him a younger person in red-orange garment with gold border and a dark bead headband and armlets stands close. On the right a man in white dhoti and shawl holds a brass plate and lifts an offering. The shrine holds a golden nataraja figure, flower garlands, a golden canopy and a silver kalasha-style vessel, with brass bowls below. Orange lights line the arch behind.2012-05-14 +1 copiesA photo of a bald elderly man with a rudraksha mala around his neck and a red-orange wrap around his waist, bare-chested with white sacred ash marks on his arm and forehead, gesturing with outstretched hands toward a lit shrine. Gold oil lamps with bright flames sit on a silver and gold altar stand with pink flower garlands, beside a gilded deity murti. A second person in white clothing with a bead bracelet holds a plate near the lamps, and another person in orange stands behind. The warm lighting and lamp flames fill the scene.2012-05-13A photograph of a priest performing aarti before a shrine with a golden arched canopy and silver pillars, decorated with white flower garlands and pink flowers. The priest, seen from behind with bare upper body, wears a rust-red dhoti and a dark beaded head garland, with white markings on his shoulders and back, and holds a lit oil lamp toward the deity murti inside the shrine. A small brass bell hangs on the right. The setting is a dim temple sanctum with a reddish wall.2012-05-07 +1 copiesA shaved-headed priest sits cross-legged on an orange cloth in a temple shrine, bare-chested and wearing an orange dhoti with gold border, a rudraksha mala across his head and a gold ornament at his shoulder. He bends over a brass tray of liquid, with white ash marks on his arms and forehead. Behind him stands a gilded shrine canopy with a Nataraja image, pink flower petals piled on a table and lit string lights framing the niche.2012-05-08A bald, bare-chested man with a red rudraksha mala across his head and gold necklaces sits cross-legged, leaning forward over a brass tray and pouring or offering from a small silver vessel. He wears an orange dhoti with gold borders and has white sacred ash marks on his arms and forehead. Behind him stands an altar with a golden deity murti, a brass oil lamp, a pink flower garland, green leaves and a plate of flowers. A white cloth is held at the left edge. The setting appears to be a temple shrine during a puja ritual.2012-05-12