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A photograph of a temple hall during a ritual, with a dark backdrop, red curtains and ornate gold arches framing a central deity murti adorned with garlands. Several people in orange and saffron garments stand near the altar performing an abhishekam-style offering; one in orange lifts an object toward the deity. Men in white kurtas and women in saffron, pink and green saffron-style saris stand or sit on the floor, many seated on a carpet facing the altar. A framed picture hangs above the shrine, and a camera on a tripod is visible at left. Nearly all faces are turned away from the camera toward the altar.

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A photograph of a temple ritual in a hall with black drapes and white walls. On a raised platform, a standing figure in orange robes stands at a large black Shiva lingam in a basin, with a deity murti behind it under a golden arch and a golden prabhavali. Other orange-robed priests stand around the platform, one holding a brass bell and another a brass vessel, while a priest in white dhoti stands near the centre. Golden arches frame dark stone murtis, a black Nandi with a red and gold cloth and flower garland sits at the right, and brass oil lamps stand on the stone floor. A framed portrait of a long-haired figure in red-and-white clothing hangs on the back wall. Seated and standing devotees fill the foreground, with a man in white at the left edge.2009-10-17Photo of a temple abhishekam in a hall with dark red drapes and gold arched frames. Several people in orange robes stand on step ladders at the central altar, pouring from brass pots over a black stone deity murti, with a garlanded white-and-gold deity and another deity beside it. A seated person in white clothing performs puja at the front. A framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" hangs above. Seated devotees in front, many in white, face the altar, and a camera operator on the left films the ritual.2009-10-17A large indoor hall with dark red and black drapes and gold-framed arches flanks a raised altar holding a central black deity murti with a gold halo, a framed portrait on the back wall, and brass lamps in front. Several priests in orange and saffron robes stand at the altar, one in white, and a woman in a white sari stands at the right. A seated audience of many people in white, orange and blue clothing faces the altar, with a video camera on a tripod at left and an orange-robed attendant near a second deity figure. A brass oil lamp and offerings sit in the foreground.2009-10-17A photograph of a crowded temple hall during a puja. Devotees sit on the floor facing a gilded shrine framed by ornate golden arches, with dark backdrops and red drapes behind. At the centre, a deity murti stands adorned with garlands and a tall decorated headdress, flanked by another decorated murti. A woman in an orange sari and several priests in white dhotis and kurtas tend the altar, one holding a lamp near the shrine. Women in saris of pink, teal and red sit among the crowd, and a framed portrait hangs above the shrine. Brass bells hang at the right edge. The scene suggests a puja or abhishekam with devotees in attendance.2009-10-17A photograph of an indoor Hindu temple hall during a puja, with a dense seated audience on the floor in the foreground. Several priests in saffron-orange robes perform rituals at a central shrine with a black stone deity murti framed by ornate gold arches and a gold prabhavali behind. Garlands of marigolds and orange cloth decorate the shrine. A standing man in white kurta stands at left beside a video camera on a tripod. On the right, a seated priest in white and a decorated golden peetha with flower arrangements and brass lamps sit beside painted murtis. A portrait hangs on the black backdrop. Visible people number over twenty.2009-10-17Interior of a temple hall during an abhishekam ceremony before a large seated congregation. A central black stone lingam sits on a raised platform framed by gold torana arches and a circular golden prabhavali behind it. A devotee in orange robes stands before the altar and offers a flower garland, while other priests in orange and white attend nearby with brass lamps and vessels. Several people in orange robes stand along the left and right sides, and a man in a pink shirt stands at the far right near a camera operator. A framed portrait with a red background hangs high on the dark drapery at the back, and a dark bronze deity murti stands on the left. Several rows of seated devotees in white and colourful clothing fill the foreground.2009-10-17A photograph inside a temple hall during a puja before a row of deity murtis decorated with garlands in pink, red and white. The central figure is a crowned deity murti flanked by golden prabhavali arches. To the left, a priest in orange robes stands at the altar waving white fly-whisks, and a larger ornate deity murti with a gold crown sits to the right. Devotees in saffron, orange, red and white saris and kurtas sit on the floor facing the altar, several with heads bowed. A framed portrait of a saint hangs above the altar on a dark drape. Brass lamps and offerings are placed before the altar.2009-10-17A photograph of a temple abhishekam inside a hall with black drapes and red curtains. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes stands at a raised black stone lingam platform, pouring from a vessel, while the lingam and two metal deity murtis with golden prabhavalis and flower garlands stand behind him. Two more saffron-robed priests stand beside gold-framed arches flanking dark stone murtis, one at the left with hands folded and one at the right with hands joined. A seated priest in saffron is at the platform, and a standing man in white dhoti is at the far right. Around 20-30 seated devotees in white and light clothing face the platform, many with hands folded. A framed portrait with red background hangs above the drapes.2009-10-17Abhishekam ritual in a hall with a black and red draped backdrop and a framed portrait of a long-haired figure with garlands on the wall. Several sannyasis in saffron-orange robes perform the ceremony around a black stone deity murti with a gold prabhavali halo, garlanded with white and red flowers, above a black shivalinga-style base. Gilded arches frame the scene, and a bronze lamp and a kalasha stand nearby. A standing man in white pours from a vessel, and a woman in a white sari stands at right. A large seated audience faces the stage, with cameramen on tripods at left and right, and a man in a white shirt holds a camera at the front.2009-10-17Photograph of an abhishekam ritual inside a hall with black drapes and gold-framed arches. Several priests in saffron-orange robes pour offerings over black stone deity murtis and a central black shivalinga-style stone on a raised platform. A framed portrait hangs above the altar. A standing bronze-coloured deity murti stands at the back, and a gold-framed altar frames an ornately decorated deity with a flower garland. Seated devotees in front, some in white and in saffron clothing; a cameraman in white and a woman in a white sari with a camera film the proceedings. No one is clearly identifiable as a person from appearance; the orange-robed priests are shown performing the ritual.2009-10-17A photo inside a temple shrine room with gold-framed altars and red and gold curtains. Several deity murtis are decorated with garlands of red and white flowers. In the centre, a woman in a long orange robe with loose dark hair stands at the altar holding a ritual lamp and puja items, facing the deities. A crowd of devotees stands with hands folded in prayer in front, including men in white dhotis and kurtas, bald-headed men in orange or white, and women in saris of yellow, red and teal. A dark metal figure of a bull with a bell necklace is visible at the right edge beside a brass lamp stand.2009-10-17February 09 20132013-02-09