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A photograph of a temple puja inside a decorated shrine. Two large deity murtis. In the foreground a priest with a red turban and bare upper body, wearing an orange cloth, holds a lit multi-tiered lamp (aarti) toward the deities. Beside him a standing man in white dhoti with a green shawl and marigold garland stands near another seated attendant in striped cloth with a rudraksha mala. A brass oil lamp stands at right, a red-draped offering table sits in front, and fruit and flower offerings are arranged on mats. No one present is clearly identifiable as a person by the visible cues.

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February 02 20162016-02-02A photograph of a temple puja in progress. On the left, a bare-chested priest in a saffron-yellow dhoti and a red-and-orange headcloth raises a tall multi-tiered brass lamp (aarti) toward the deities. Seated in the centre-right is a man in a green-and-gold garment with a green turban, hands folded, beside a large decorated shrine. Two deity murtis sit on a red throne draped in red cloth, heavily garlanded with yellow marigolds and red flowers. At the far right, a man in a white dhoti and mustard shawl holds a brass oil lamp, and brass vessels with fruit and offerings sit on the floor. Colourful painted pillars and a red-and-gold canopy frame the shrine.2016-02-02Ritual scene in a temple hall with a homa fire pit at lower left, filled with wooden logs and offerings. A priest with a red headcloth and bare upper body, wearing a green-and-orange cloth, extends his arm toward the fire. Behind him a seated attendant in white dhoti with a beaded necklace sits on a striped mat. On the right a priest in white dhoti and gold-trimmed shawl sits beside a red-draped seat. Elaborately garlanded deity murtis with yellow and red flower garlands stand on a raised red throne, and a brass lamp stands at right. A golden hooded-cobra backdrop frames a ganesha murti at left. Several people are visible in the scene, and the event is a puja with fire offering.2016-02-02Photograph of a temple-style shrine decorated with yellow and red marigold garlands. Seated at center on a red-draped platform is a deity murti with a gold crown, rich jewelry and a sari-like cloth. A priest in a green-trimmed white dhoti and a turban-like cloth stands holding a multi-tiered brass lamp with many lit flames. To the left, a bare-chested priest in an orange and yellow dhoti, a pink turban and a rudraksha mala performs a ritual with a brass vessel. Another person in green sits near the lamp. At right, a bare-chested priest in an orange-yellow cloth holds a garland and sits beside a lit oil lamp. Brass lamps and a small fabric-covered offering table complete the scene.2016-02-02A temple-style ritual in a hall decorated with marigold and yellow garlands. A priest in a saffron sash and white dhoti raises a tall, lit multi-tier oil lamp (aarti) toward a seated deity murti under a red canopy, adorned with garlands and a gold crown. Another priest in a white dhoti stands nearby, and a bearded attendant at the right holds a lit oil lamp beside a red-draped seat. A fire pit with burning wood and brass vessels of offerings sits in the foreground, with a seated figure in red garlanded at the far left before a golden throne.2016-02-02February 02 20162016-02-02February 02 20162016-02-02February 02 20162016-02-02Photograph of a temple ritual in a shrine room with several deity murtis decorated with thick garlands of yellow, red and white flowers. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in a yellow shawl and orange-yellow dhoti bends toward a seated priest in white with a garland, who holds a small object. A standing man in white dhoti and green-and-black shawl with a flower garland presses his hands together. On the right a priest in white dhoti and yellow shawl holds a lit oil lamp. Gold and brass ritual vessels and a patterned golden backdrop surround the scene.2016-02-02A temple-style ritual inside a bright hall with a dark backdrop. Several priests in white dhotis stand and sit around a decorated deity murti on the right, draped in red and gold cloth and heavy garlands of yellow and red flowers. A standing priest in an orange-yellow shawl and a red headwrap faces the deity, one arm outstretched. Another priest in a green garment and tall decorated headdress holds a garland of yellow flowers. On the left, a seated figure wearing red-orange garlands sits before a large golden peetha with a decorative arch. Brass oil lamps, kalasha pots and offering plates sit on the mats in front. The scene appears to be a puja or abhishekam.2016-02-02A photograph of a temple-style ritual inside a decorated hall. In the centre-left, a fire pit with a bright flame sits on a striped rug with offerings, brass vessels and flower petals. A priest in an orange waist-cloth with a bare chest and an orange turban kneels and holds a lit lamp and a brass plate toward the figures on the right. Behind him a standing priest in white dhoti and shirt with a green-and-gold headpiece holds a garland. On the right, large deity murtis are decorated with yellow and red marigold garlands and red silk. A man in an orange shawl holds a lit oil lamp at the lower right. Further back, a seated figure in orange and gold sits on a golden throne with a jewelled hooded backdrop, flanked by golden lion figures, with a woman in white on the far left.2016-02-02February 02 20162016-02-02