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A priest in a white dhoti and white shawl stands at a large dark stone yagna or homa platform, sweeping or sprinkling with a brush-like implement over the fire pit while holding a small offering dish. Behind him, a white-clad attendant with a rudraksha-style necklace and another man in white stand watching. Behind the platform are richly decorated deity images of goddess forms with multiple arms, a lion mount, Ganesha, and additional deities adorned with white and red garlands, illuminated by brass oil lamps and a white ceremonial umbrella with fringe. Smoke rises through the scene.

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Night-time ritual photo at a temple shrine. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold chain holds a flaming lamp over a black square homa or yagna fire pit on a white stone platform. Behind him, a large ornate silver-white umbrella canopy covers a shrine with deity murtis, including a multi-armed goddess figure with a crown, and brass oil lamps stand on the platform. Several men in white ritual clothes stand in the background, and a mat with offerings and brass vessels lies in the foreground. The scene suggests puja or aarti with a fire offering.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15A photo of a night-time puja at a temple shrine. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing gold chains and a bracelet, holds a burning flame over a kalasha-like offering while sweeping it with a broom-like tool. Behind him, large ornately decorated deity murti with white lace-like adornments, flowers and an umbrella stand on a red-draped platform, including a lion-mounted goddess figure with multiple arms. Brass oil lamps are lit on the altar, and a fire pit sits in the foreground. Two attendants in white stand at left.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15A photograph of a homa or fire ritual in a temple hall beside a row of deity murtis, including a goddess figure in white and red with a multi-armed form. A priest in white dhoti and shirt with a maroon border kneels and tends a square fire pit, with smoke rising. Standing behind him to the left are several men in white kurtas and a man in a khaki shirt with a lanyard, watching. Brass oil lamps, kalashas, brass plates of offerings, bananas, and an umbrella canopy with a tassel frame the altar, and orange and multicolour banners hang from the roof. No a person candidate is visible.2010-10-15October 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15Night-time ritual at a temple-like hall with an open fire pit in the foreground. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and upper cloth, with saffron-and-white beaded garland around his neck, holds a long flame toward a square stone fire pit. Behind him, white and red-garlanded deity murtis under a white fringed canopy, with brass lamps and kalasha-like vessels on the floor. Men in white shirts and a woman in a yellow sari stand at left with hands folded, some looking on; a bright light and banners hang overhead. Smoke rises from the flame. Appears to be an aarti or homa-style fire offering.2010-10-15A night-time homa or puja at a temple shrine with a large deity murti of Devi, multi-armed and adorned with white floral decorations and a garland, under a white canopy. In the foreground a priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border, gold chain and tilak, pours grains or offerings from a silver plate into the fire pit. Another priest in white kneels beside him, and a standing figure at right tends a brass lamp. Small oil lamps and flower petals surround the altar, with red fairy lights behind the left side.2010-10-16A night-time photograph of a homa ritual at a square white fire pit with a dark central well, sprinkled with flower petals and surrounded by a dotted line of petals. Two priests in white dhotis stand and sit at the altar: a standing priest on the left holds a metal vessel and a ladle-like implement over the pit, while a second priest on the right, shirtless and wearing gold chains, pours from a bowl. A third man sits cross-legged in the foreground feeding sticks or twigs. Smoke rises from the pit. Behind them, a large decorated deity murti with silver ornamentation and a white arch stands beneath a canopy with a fringed top, flanked by smaller figures, with lit oil lamps and a string of red lights in the background. Women in red and orange saris sit to the right watching the ritual.2010-10-16