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A photograph of a procession ratha decorated with garlands of white jasmine and red flowers. A man in white ritual clothes with an orange saffron shawl stands at the left, holding a camphor flame or aarti lamp toward the deity on the right. The deity murti wears a golden crown-like headdress, gold ornaments and a heavy flower garland. Behind the ratha, a crowd of schoolchildren in blue uniforms and women in saris watches, with trees and a playground in the background. The orange saffron shawl and white clothing are the clearest cues for the man, but his face is not visible and his identity cannot be confirmed from appearance, so this is an aarti on a procession ratha.

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Outdoor temple scene during a procession of deities. On the right, two golden murti of Nithyanandeshwara and Nithyanandeshwari are richly garlanded with white jasmine and red flower strings, ornate jewelled crowns and necklaces, and a blue draped cloth on the seated figure. A man in white dhoti and shirt with an orange shawl stands at left holding a tray of offerings, possibly fruit, while a flame burns from a lamp or fire vessel in front of the deities. Behind him, a long row of young children in white shirts and blue skirts or shorts stands in line beside a green hedge, with a playground of swings and slides and tropical trees and a decorated garland canopy overhead. Possibly a puja or aarti in progress.2006-10-31A photograph of a procession chariot with a man in a white kurta and orange shawl holding a lit oil lamp flame toward two decorated deity murtis. The murtis are golden-faced figures draped in garlands of white flowers and red roses, with silver necklaces and blue cloth. A fruit plate with bananas and limes sits on the chariot in the foreground. Behind, a line of school children in blue uniforms stand watching under green trees and a play area. The man appears to be performing aarti at a ratha yatra.2006-10-31A man in a white kurta with an orange shawl over one shoulder raises a lit oil lamp toward the golden deity murti pair of a ratha procession on a wooden platform. The two golden metal murtis wear blue and white garments, heavy silver necklaces, floral crowns and thick garlands of white and red flowers. Below, a brass plate holds bananas, fruit and offerings. Behind them, a line of school children in blue uniforms stands with hands folded in a garden with trees and a playground.2006-10-31A photograph of a temple ratha procession in Chennai. In the foreground a man in a white dhoti and shirt with an orange shawl over his shoulder stands on the chariot, holding a small lamp or pot toward two golden deity murtis on the right. The deity murtis are adorned with white and red flower garlands, jewelled necklaces and ornate crowns; one is dressed in blue and white cloth. On the plate below sit fruit and offerings, and behind the chariot a line of schoolchildren in blue and white uniforms watches. A large fire burns at the back, beside a playground and trees. The scene is consistent with an aarti at a ratha yatra procession.2006-10-31A photograph of a homa fire ceremony under a decorated canopy with orange and yellow pennants and string lights. A man in a white kurta and white dhoti with a saffron-orange shawl stands at the edge of a dark square fire pit, bending forward with his hands near the smoke rising from it. Marigold garlands hang at the right foreground. Behind him, a seated audience of mostly children and adults in white and orange sits on mats, with brass plates of fruit, flowers and offerings arranged on a low platform before them.2008-12-28 +1 copiesOutdoor ritual beneath a large spreading tree. On the left, a stone platform holds a decorated deity murti draped with marigold and yellow flower garlands, under a striped canopy. A man in a white head wrap and a flowing yellow-and-white garment stands at right, holding a lit flame or aarti lamp toward the murti. Behind him, rows of devotees in white clothes, several holding orange flags, stand with hands folded. Seated devotees in white fill the lower right, with brass lamps and flower offerings on a small table in the foreground. The scene reads as an aarti in progress.2005-01-01April 14 20132013-04-14December 14 20062006-12-14January 01 20062006-01-01Outdoor ritual under a large spreading tree at an ashram. On the right, a man in a cream-yellow robe with a white head wrap and a garland of flowers around his neck holds a bell in one hand and a lit aarti lamp in the other, facing a seated gathering. On the left, a decorated deity murti is adorned with garlands of yellow and white flowers, standing beside a stone-built base with a wide tray above it. Brass oil lamps with flowers sit on a white-draped table in front. Devotees in white with hands folded in prayer stand and sit in rows, and saffron flags are visible on the left. This appears to be an aarti during an outdoor puja.2005-01-01October 30 20062006-10-30A photograph of an outdoor ritual at a decorated shrine with a golden pillar and floral garlands overhead. A man with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a white kurta and an orange shawl draped over his shoulders, holds a flaming lamp over a tray of fruit and sweets. A row of uniformed schoolchildren in blue and white watches from behind a low hedge, and several women in saris stand at left beside a golden-panelled screen. Trees, a playground and a fenced area appear in the background.2006-10-31