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Night-time outdoor ritual on sand before a seated crowd. A priest in a red-maroon dhoti and shawl, with bare chest and sandalwood or ash markings and beaded necklaces, raises a small silver vessel over a group of gold-coloured metal deity murtis on a red platform. Beside him a man in an orange-striped dhoti stands with palms joined. Another man in a purple-bordered white dhoti and beaded necklace bends at right. Behind them a seated crowd in red and orange clothing watches. A bucket sits on the sand near the murtis.

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Night outdoor ritual on sand. A priest in a dark red dhoti and shawl, with an ash-marked forehead and rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, pours liquid from a silver vessel over a white lingam and gold-coloured deity figures on a platform. Two men in red dhotis stand beside them with hands folded in prayer, and a man in a purple top and white dhoti bows near a small kalasha-like vessel. A large seated crowd in orange, red and white clothing sits behind, many with hands joined. The lingam is abhishekam-washed, and the deity figures wear a purple and pink cloth.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night-time outdoor ritual on sand: a priest in a maroon dhoti and shawl, with a painted forehead and rudraksha malas, pours water from a vessel over a golden metal deity murti standing on a white ice-like base. Beside him a second priest in an orange-brown dhoti with a yellow border tends the base, and a third in a purple shirt and white dhoti bends to the sand. Behind them a large seated crowd, many with palms pressed together, watches in the dark. A metal bucket and red stand sit at the front. A printed copyright line appears at lower right.2015-12-25Night-time outdoor puja on sand. In the foreground a man in a rust-red dhoti and red cloth bends over a silver deity murti on a metal base, pouring liquid over it with one hand. Behind him, several priests in white and cream dhotis, some with rudraksha-style garland necklaces, stand near a metal vessel. On the right a bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a purple-and-gold cloth holds a small vessel and wears a white flower garland. Seated devotees fill the background, and a pale-faced older man in a red shawl stands among the priests. Lights from the scene are faint.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night photograph of an outdoor ritual on sand. A man in a red-orange dhoti and matching shawl leans forward to pour or touch water over a silver-toned deity murti of Shiva with a tall crown, standing on a low platform. Behind him, a bald man in a red shawl with folded hands and two men in white dhotis stand near the murti. A bare-chested man in a purple-patterned dhoti and a white dhoti stands at right holding a vessel. A metal pot sits on the sand. Seated devotees in orange and white clothes fill the background.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night ritual outdoors on sand. A central figure in a red-orange dhoti-style garment with long dark hair and white forehead markings raises a small silver vessel above his head. Beside him, bronze deity murtis stand on a raised base, including a taller figure with a crown-like headdress and a smaller child figure. Nearby, a man in a red cloth and rudraksha beads stands with hands together, and two men in white dhotis with purple and green borders hold garlands. A steel pot sits on the sand. Behind them, a crowd of seated and standing devotees, many in white, watch and fold their hands in prayer under dark night sky.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 26 20152015-12-26December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25