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Outdoor ritual at a shrine under leafy trees. In the centre, a man with long dark hair and a blue wrap over his shoulders and a marigold garland holds a lit oil lamp in one hand and a bell in the other, facing forward. To his right, several men in white dhotis with gold borders and white shawls, some with garlands, stand with hands folded or holding a small vessel. Behind the lamp bearer, a black stone deity murti in a blue cloth and marigold garlands sits under a carved white arch, with a large mound of red kumkum or vermilion offerings in front. The ground is reddish earth with a rangoli-style design at the bottom edge.

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December 26 20102010-12-26Outdoor ritual scene under large banyan-type trees beside a shrine with a white arched stone frame housing a blue deity murti garlanded with flowers, set on a red-powdered kumkum mound. A barefoot man in a blue dhoti and blue upper cloth wearing a marigold garland and long swept-back hair stands on a black stone floor holding a lit oil lamp. Behind him a line of men in white ritual dhotis and shawls stands with hands folded in prayer, and two more devotees in white stand at right with palms joined. The scene shows an oil lamp offering, not a homa.2010-12-26December 26 20102010-12-26Outdoor photo of a ritual at a shrine under a leafy tree. A dark stone deity murti stands in a white arched niche, draped in a blue cloth and garlanded with orange and yellow flower garlands, with a red kumkum-covered base in front. A man in a blue dhoti and blue shawl, with long swept-back hair, an orange flower garland and a rudraksha-style neck garland, holds a silver bell in one hand and a small lamp or ritual vessel in the other. Behind him, two men in white dhotis with gold borders and flower garlands hold a silver plate and offerings. A small open flame burns on a stand between them. Ground is swept and decorated with a colourful kolam pattern.2010-12-26Outdoor ritual scene beneath large spreading trees at an ashram-style site. In the left foreground, a Shiva lingam stands inside a white stone arch, draped with garlands in yellow, red and purple, and heaped with red offerings. Nearby, a flame burns on a tree trunk. Two men stand to the right: a young man in white dhoti and shawl with a long hair and rudraksha garland holds a bell and oil lamp, while a shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes and a matching shawl stands beside him. Other devotees in white and red-bordered garments stand with hands folded, and a person in white stands at the back near the lingam. Floor kolam designs are visible in white.2010-12-21Outdoor temple scene under broad shady trees. A young man in a turquoise-blue dhoti-style garment and orange-red garland stands barefoot on a dark polished stone platform, holding a lit oil lamp in one hand and a brass bell in the other. Behind him stand a row of people in white ritual clothes, several with folded hands in prayer, and a figure in saffron-orange robes stands at left beside a deity murti in blue with garlands and a white arched stone shrine. Heaped red offerings surround the deity. A small fire flame burns near the centre background.2010-12-26December 21 20102010-12-21Outdoor temple scene under a large banyan tree. A dark stone deity murti dressed in a blue cloth and garlanded with red and yellow marigold flowers stands within a white arched shrine frame, in front of a mound of red kumkum or vermilion powder on a black-and-white dotted base. In the foreground a figure with long dark hair and a sky-blue dhoti and shawl stands with palms joined in prayer, facing the shrine. To the right a man in white dhoti and shirt with a gold-bordered shawl and garlands holds a brass plate of offerings, and another white-clad attendant stands beside him. On the left a figure in saffron-orange robes walks near the shrine. The ground has a white chalk kolam design.2010-12-26Outdoor ritual at a shaded courtyard beneath large banyan-type trees. In the foreground a young man in saffron-orange robes with a matching orange shawl and orange-and-yellow flower garlands holds a bell and stands before a small flame in a lamp. Beside him another saffron-robed man holds a lamp, and a line of devotees with folded hands stands behind them, including a woman in a white sari with green border. To the left, a black deity murti draped in saffron cloth and marigold garlands sits on a pedestal in front of a heap of red kumkum powder and an ornate stone arch. Fresh red and yellow floral rangoli decorates the ground, and dark polished stone slabs lead toward the lamp. The scene suggests an aarti or puja. Two or three figures are in the frame besides the bell-holder.2010-12-27Outdoor temple courtyard shaded by large banyan trees. A deity murti in blue stands within an arched white shrine on a red-powder base, garlanded with flowers. A man in a sleeveless blue garment and long loose hair stands barefoot on a dark polished stone floor, palms joined in prayer, while a priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a lit lamp (aarti). Several white-clad devotees stand with hands folded to the right, and a figure in orange robes stands at the left near the shrine. Kolam-style designs decorate the ground. The man in blue has distinctive long swept-back hair and shawl-like attire, a probable appearance-based match for a person leading the aarti, though identity is uncertain from appearance alone.2010-12-26Outdoor ritual photograph beneath tall shade trees. A standing man in white dhoti and shawl with long dark hair and beaded necklaces holds a lamp and bell-like object before a stone shrine arch containing a white-clad seated figure decorated with a marigold garland, in front of a heap of red flower offerings. A man in saffron-orange robes stands beside him, and a row of devotees in white and cream attire with red shawls stand with palms joined along the right. A small oil lamp burns on a stone base near the trunk. Polished black stone slabs and white kolam designs cover the ground.2010-12-21December 21 20102010-12-21