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A photograph of a temple ritual in a plain white block-walled hall. A man in long flowing orange robes with long dark hair and white paint markings on his upper arms stands on a step stool, reaching to a black stone deity murti. Beside him a woman in saffron-orange robes with maroon borders holds a silver tray with a metal bowl, offerings and flowers. Orange cloth and red-and-white garlands drape the black stone figures behind, and a brass lamp sits at the right edge.

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A man with long, swept-back dark hair and white tilak marks on his forehead and arms wears an orange saffron robe and a gold necklace of beads. He stands at left, gesturing with an open palm toward a group of large black stone deity statues with tall crowns. A photographer in a white and gold dhoti-style garment photographs the scene from behind the statues. A second person in orange stands at the far left edge. Red and silver drapes hang behind, with a yellow and orange cloth draped over the statue bases.2007-11-09A long-haired man in an orange saffron robe and gold necklace stands at right, smiling with eyes closed as he raises a red-and-white ball of offering toward the head of a large black stone deity murti. White ash marks cover his upper arm and shoulder, and a red bindi sits on his forehead. Two black stone figures stand side by side on a pedestal, with an orange cloth and offerings at their base. Behind him a partially visible person in orange and glasses stands at far left, and red velvet curtains frame the scene. The image appears to show an abhishekam or puja at an inauguration.2007-11-09A man with long, voluminous dark hair and white ash markings on his arms and chest stands at left in a flowing saffron-orange wrap, holding a small decorated vessel aloft toward the upper wall, apparently performing a ritual pouring or offering. A rudraksha-style bead necklace hangs against his bare back. Beside him, three tall black stone deity murti stand in a row on a plinth, their tiered crowns and ornate jewelry polished and gleaming. Behind them hang grey shimmering drapes and a red velvet curtain. A photographer with a camera stands partly hidden in the background, and a cropped figure in pale clothing is visible at the far left edge. A small pink and orange floral offering sits at the base of the deities.2007-11-09A standing man in a saffron-orange draped robe pours water from a red-rimmed vessel held high over a tall black stone deity murti, with water spraying in the air. He wears a long gold-bead necklace, a red tilak on his forehead and long swept-back dark hair; his upper arms show white paste. Behind him a woman in orange clothing holds a camera, and seated devotees in white and orange fill the background hall, with a red cloth and offerings at the base of the murti. The appearance of the central figure with long hair, gold necklace and saffron robe is a probable match for a person, performing abhishekam on a Shiva-form murti.2007-11-09March 22 20082008-03-22A photograph inside a temple shrine room of a deity murti being bathed in a ritual abhishekam. A man with long dark swept-back hair, wearing an orange saffron robe, gold chain necklace, and white markings on his arm, pours liquid from a small vessel with a stem over a seated golden murti wearing a red and gold crown and red-gold garments. Behind him a man in an orange robe with a rudraksha mala stands with hands folded, and another person in orange stands further back. Seated devotees in orange and red saris with folded hands watch at left. A brass oil lamp stands on a pedestal, and a red curtain and a decorated teal cloth frame the scene.2007-11-09November 09 20072007-11-09A photograph of a temple ritual in progress. A man with long, swept-back dark hair and white sacred markings on his face and arms, wearing orange draped robes and a gold necklace, holds a brass kalasha inside a white wire cage while raising a white cloth or cord above his head, beside black stone deity murti. Behind him a second man in orange robes and a rudraksha-style mala stands with hands folded, and a figure in white dhoti sits behind the kalasha. To the left, a decorated silver-framed deity murti is adorned with a garland of green, white and red flowers, and a metal tool case sits on the floor. a person: the long-haired man in orange with gold necklace and ritual markings is the.2007-11-09November 09 20072007-11-09A photograph of a temple abhishekam at night. A man in saffron-orange robes with a flowing orange shawl, a gold and rudraksha necklace, and a white vibhuti mark on his forehead stands at right, extending his hands and sprinkling white powder over a dark stone lingam draped with white jasmine garlands and red flowers. Behind him, a second man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala holds a brass plate. At left, a white stone deity murti of a seated figure with a rudraksha mala sits near the shrine, and devotees in white are faintly visible in the background.2009-12-16November 09 20072007-11-09 +1 copiesA photograph of a Shiva lingam ritual at a temple. A man with long, swept-back dark hair, a red bindi and white markings on his arms wears an orange-saffron robe and gold necklace, smiling as he holds a bundle of yellow flowers wrapped in white cloth beside the black stone lingam. Behind him a younger attendant in an orange robe with a red bindi carries a silver tray with a small silver vessel and a lamp. A silver bowl sits on the floor in front of the black lingam with its lotus-shaped base, and a gold-framed mirror and brass vessel are at the sides.2007-11-09