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Night temple ritual in a shrine with orange-painted walls and a stone pillar. Two priests in white dhotis stand before a richly decorated deity murti draped in red and white flower garlands; one wears a tall decorated crown, the other bare-chested with a white shawl, both facing the altar. Brass vessels, a brick-lined fire pit with offerings, banana leaves and flower heaps lie on the floor. Onlookers in white and red saris and white shirts stand behind, and a cameraman films with a handheld camera. A brass bell hangs in the upper right corner.

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May 02 20122012-05-02Temple ritual at night in a South Indian shrine hall with orange-red draped walls and carved stone pillars. Two figures stand before ornately decorated deity forms and a seated figure on a red-draped throne, all garlanded with white jasmine and red-and-yellow flower garlands. A man in a tall ornamented headdress and white dhoti with gold border and a rudraksha mala holds up a white cloth, while a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and a white head cloth beside him wears a white flower garland. Brass lamps, a kalasha, flower offerings and a small bell sit nearby; onlookers in white and saris watch from the left.2012-05-02May 02 20122012-05-02May 02 20122012-05-02Photograph of a temple ritual inside a warmly lit shrine hall with orange-painted walls. A young man in a decorated gold-and-black crown, white dhoti and layered garlands of white jasmine and red flowers stands with folded hands before a seated figure. A second man with bare upper body and a yellow-and-white turban, wrapped in a white cloth, performs the offering from behind. To the right a deity murti is heavily adorned with red, green and yellow garlands. Brass vessels, a kalasha-type pot, coconut, banana leaves and a microphone sit on a mat in front. Standing onlookers in white and a woman in a yellow sari watch, and a videographer with a camera occupies the left edge. Appearance-based cues on the crowned young man are not distinctive enough to identify him, so his role is described only as a participant in the ritual.2012-05-02May 02 20122012-05-02May 02 20122012-05-02A night-time temple ritual photographed indoors under warm orange lighting. Two priests in white dhotis stand at center; the one on the left, holding a tall brass vessel, and the one on the right, bare-chested with a white cloth over one shoulder, raise a lit lamp or ritual object toward the deities. Both are garlanded with white and red-green flower garlands. Behind them stand two ornate deity murti decorated with flower garlands in red, green and white, seated on red velvet and gold thrones, with a gold kalasha-style canopy. In the foreground is a square yagna/homa fire-pit of brick with offerings, brass pots, a small bell and flowers. At left a cameraman films, and several people in white ritual clothes stand in the background near a poster on the wall. A green banana plant and a hanging bell frame the scene.2012-05-02Temple wedding ritual inside a richly decorated shrine hall. In the centre a young man in a gold crown and white dhoti with a garland of white and red flowers stands before a deity murti seated on a gilded throne, its figure draped in white and red flower garlands. Beside him a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a cloth head covering and a garland, handles a red cloth. Oil lamps and brass vessels sit on the floor, and a banana plant and carved stone pillar frame the scene. A woman in a cream sari with a gold-bordered shawl stands at left, and a man in white stands behind her.2012-05-02May 02 20122012-05-02Night-time ritual at a temple: two priests in white dhotis stand at a brick-lined homa fire pit, one raising a brass vessel and the other holding a lamp or plate aloft. Both wear gold-trimmed white cloth and garlands; one has a white turban. Behind them, a deity murti is decorated with red and orange flower garlands and sits on a red cloth throne in an ornate gold and red shrine. A small group of onlookers in white, saffron and blue saris watches, and a cameraperson films. Offerings of flowers and dried twigs lie on the floor beside the fire pit.2012-05-02May 02 20122012-05-02