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A night-time puja at an outdoor ritual platform under a bamboo-scaffolded structure. A bald priest in white dhoti with orange shawl and rudraksha mala leans forward, lighting a brass aarti lamp before a golden deity murti decorated with red and white flowers and garlands. Behind him, several priests in white dhotis stand with hands folded or holding ritual objects, one in a blue-bordered dhoti at right. A man in orange robes kneels with hands joined at left. Offerings of fruit, flowers and brass vessels line the foreground steps and altar. Yellow marigold garlands decorate the stone steps, and red cloth covers the altar table. Approximately six people are visible.

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March 02 20182018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02Night-time homa ritual in an open-air temple courtyard with a shallow fire pit in the foreground, ringed with marigold garlands and red flower petals. Several shirtless priests in white dhotis with yellow borders stand around the flames; one holds a small brass vessel and another raises a tapered ritual implement, while a third has hands folded in namaskar. To the far right an older man in a blue-bordered white dhoti tends a table draped in red and covered with flowers and fruit. Behind the fire, a shrine on the left holds a colourful deity murti framed by a decorated arch, and white scaffolding and pillars line the hall. Offering plates, a brass lamp, and a yellow cloth bundle sit on the ground.2018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02A night-time fire ritual at a temple under construction, with scaffolding and concrete columns behind. A bald priest in white dhoti and orange-bordered cloth kneels at a raised stone platform, holding a brass lamp near a small flame. Around him, several men stand bare-chested in white dhotis; one wears a blue-and-yellow checked cloth, another holds a bell. A standing man in saffron cloth and a rudraksha mala with folded hands stands at the right edge of the fire, and an elderly man in white is nearby. A woman in a blue shawl and red blouse holds a plate at the right. Marigold garlands and flower offerings surround the platform, and a silver-and-gold ornate murti stands on a red-draped altar with fruit offerings in front. A homa/yagna-style fire ritual with puja offerings.2018-03-02A photograph of an indoor ritual space under construction, with bare concrete columns, scaffolding and exposed ceiling beams. Several men in white dhotis and bare upper bodies stand around a low brick platform decorated with marigold garlands, yellow and red flower arrangements, brass vessels and offering plates. On the right, a priest in a saffron-and-white dhoti stands near a red-draped altar with a flower-covered deity murti and a gold-framed backdrop. Smoke rises through the hall. A man in a saffron-yellow dhoti stands on the left, another in a saffron wrap stands centre-left, and no figure is clearly identifiable as a person from appearance.2018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02A night-time temple puja scene. In the foreground a bare-chested priest with a sacred-thread cord and a red cloth wrap stands before a golden deity murti garlanded with white and red flowers, holding a plate in his hands. Behind him stands an older man in white with a brass basin. Another bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a green border stands at the centre, and a figure in white stands at the far right. The altar is draped in red cloth with yellow and red flower petals, leaves and small brass vessels spread across it. Scaffolding and string lights are visible in the background.2018-03-02Night-time homa at an outdoor temple courtyard. Several priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies stand around raised stone fire pits, one with a large flame. A priest in a yellow-and-white dhoti holds a ladle or offering over the central fire, while another with folded hands stands beside him. On the right, a golden deity murti or ornate image is decorated with red and yellow flower garlands, with fruits, coconuts and brass vessels arranged on a red-draped table. Marigold garlands line the fire platforms. Scaffolding and pillars frame the background, and a lit shrine is visible at left.2018-03-02A temple ritual photograph at night. An elderly priest with a shaved head, wearing a white dhoti and an orange-and-yellow silk shawl, stands before a gilded throne-like altar decorated with red and orange flowers and yellow marigold garlands. Below, a small deity murti is adorned with white and green garlands, flanked by brass pots, a kalasha, and silver vessels. Several men with bare torsos and white dhotis stand nearby with arms folded, one wearing a rudraksha-style mala necklace, while a man at right wears a blue shawl. Steps in front are lined with marigold petals and small lamps, and smoke rises at right. Scaffolding and bare walls are visible behind.2018-03-02A photograph of an indoor temple ritual space under scaffolding, lit at night. In the foreground, a seated figure with long dark hair wears an orange-brown robe and a multicoloured floral garland, facing the rituals, with a brass urn at the lower right on a striped woven mat. On a raised platform, several priests in white dhotis and bare-chested or white-shawled attire perform a puja around altars with flowers, lamps and offerings. One priest in a white dhoti stands at the rear, and a small deity murti decorated with flowers sits on the right under a golden canopy. Scaffolding and unfinished brick walls surround the scene.2018-03-02January 06 20182018-01-06