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A photograph of a ritual at a temple hall with red and white striped pillars. A shaved-headed priest in orange robes and gold chains sits on a mat, receiving a lit camphor or oil flame from a younger priest in white dhoti and shawl who wears a gold necklace and holds a small brass vessel. Brass plates heaped with yellow flowers, bundles of dried herbs or sticks, and a red box of offerings sit on the floor. Behind them a deity murti stands in a niche with a stone staircase and a gold oil lamp in front. A woman in orange and white sits near the wall in the background. A microphone stands in front of the ritual participants, and the setting appears to be a puja or aarti offering.

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Photograph of a ritual homa at a temple courtyard. A young priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold-coloured border sits cross-legged before a fire pit of burning wood, his hands extended toward the flames, a microphone on a stand before him. Gold necklaces with bead and pendant ornaments hang on his chest. Beside him sits a second man in orange-saffron cloth with a gold-bead mala and pendant, his hands folded in his lap, with a brass plate of yellow flower petals in front of him. A tall brass oil lamp with a lit flame stands at right beside a brass vessel, and a red-and-white striped pillar stands behind.2011-11-01A homa ritual in progress at a brick fire pit lined with yellow-ochre bricks, with a small flame and smoke rising from the ash. A shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti with a gold-bordered cloth and gold necklaces sits with palms pressed together in prayer before a microphone stand, a book open beside him. Beside him, a second priest in orange-saffron cloth and a rudraksha-style bead mala sits with hands clasped. Offerings sit on brass plates, including a plate of flowers, a bowl of kumkum, a brass oil lamp with a flame, and a bundle of wooden sticks. Behind them, a deity murti is draped with red and white garlands.2011-11-29November 01 20112011-11-01November 01 20112011-11-01November 05 20102010-11-05November 05 20102010-11-05Two priests perform a homa at a temple shrine before a deity murti. The priest on the left, wearing a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala, holds a small brass bowl. The priest in the center wears a white dhoti and gold-bordered shawl, bare-chested with gold necklaces, and pours liquid from a brass vessel over a fire burning in a red tray. Offerings of bananas, yellow flowers, leaves and bowls sit on the orange cloth. Behind them, a golden-framed altar holds two deity murtis decorated with white and orange garlands and green and red silk garments. A brass oil lamp stands nearby, and a wall board displays printed names.2011-11-01A photograph of a temple abhishekam ritual in a red-and-orange hall with a golden-trimmed basin and a carved stone shrine at left. A bearded priest in orange dhoti with a red-orange shawl sits at the basin pouring liquid, while a seated priest in orange with folded hands faces him. Trays hold yellow and red flower heaps, fruit, and brass vessels. A standing priest in white dhoti with an orange shawl and another standing man in orange stand behind. Seated devotees in white and orange sit along the right wall, and a shaved-headed monk in saffron sits in the foreground.2010-07-21November 01 20112011-11-01November 12 20102010-11-12December 31 20112011-12-31A photograph of a homa ritual at an outdoor altar bordered with yellow and orange marigold petals. A man in saffron robes with a gold necklace and a striped tilak on his forehead sits cross-legged, gesturing with his right hand while the other hand is open over the altar. Beside him, a younger man in white dhoti and a yellow shawl is seated, with a second young man in white and yellow beside him holding a small silver vessel. In front of them sit a brass kalasha wrapped in mesh with a flower arrangement and a small silver bowl. A standing sannyasi in orange robes with arms folded stands in the background near a tall brass lamp stand, with green foliage behind.2009-09-25