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A dense crowd gathers around a black stone Shivalinga on a stone platform, decorated with orange, yellow and red flower garlands and a golden crown-like arch. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and cloth pours liquid over the lingam from a vessel, while a shaved-headed man in an orange robe stands with hands folded at the front. Several saffron-robed monks and devotees with orange and pink turbans and rudraksha malas press close, some with hands raised in prayer. A bare-chested man in front holds his hands to the lingam, and a woman in a red sari with gold jewellery holds a brass plate of flowers and offerings. Police officers in khaki uniforms and photographers with cameras stand at the edge of the crowd.

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February 17 20082008-02-17Crowded temple interior during a ritual at a black stone deity murti on a grey stone pedestal, with a black bull-like stone sculpture in front. A bare-chested man in white dhoti holds a tray of dark offering in both hands toward the murti. Behind him, a bearded man in saffron robes wears a gold necklace and a crown-like headpiece. Around them, many men in saffron and orange clothing, some in pink or red headcloths, and uniformed attendants in olive-green stand close together. Garlands of orange marigolds hang on the walls and pillars, and green stage lights glow at the top. The scene suggests abhishekam at a temple shrine.2008-02-17A crowded temple interior during a ritual, with a black stone bull statue (nandi) on a stone base at center, draped in a red and gold cloth and garlanded with orange marigolds. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a rudraksha mala and a bead necklace stands with hands folded at the statue. To his right, a man with a long white beard wears saffron-orange robes, and beside him a bearded man in orange with a crown-like headpiece and a pendant stands with hands raised in prayer. A woman in the foreground holds a metal plate of offerings. Uniformed police officers and a cameraman with a camera on his shoulder stand among a dense crowd, many in orange and pink headwear. Marigold garlands hang on pillars behind.2008-02-17Crowded night scene inside a temple mandapa at a ritual, with a black stone Nandi bull statue on a stone base in the centre. A bare-chested man in white dhoti and gold chain stands at the centre, holding up a dark flat stone slab, while devotees in saffron and orange robes and pink turbans press around. Garlands of orange marigolds and red flowers hang on the pillars, and several people hold cameras. A man at the left wears a white vest, and a few others wear saffron clothing and rudraksha malas. Marigold and flower offerings are arranged on the stone base. A visible saffron-robed figure with a long beard stands near the centre, and another person with a crown-like headpiece appears in the crowd, though these appearances are uncertain.2008-02-17Crowded temple interior at night with black stone deity murti and garlands of orange and white flowers along the walls. In the centre, a bearded man in saffron robes with hands joined in namaskar stands beside a black stone bull (nandi) statue on a stone platform decorated with flowers and a red cloth. Beside him, a man in white ritual dress with a saffron shawl stands near another bearded man in orange robes with a gold necklace and a gold headband. Uniformed police officers in khaki and a man in orange with a saffron turban and a camera stand among devotees. Several men in white, saffron and orange surround the platform, with a bald man in orange in the lower right corner.2008-02-17A crowded temple interior during a ritual at a shrine decorated with garlands of pink gerbera and white flowers and yellow marigold strings. A figure with long swept-back dark hair and a wrap in saffron/orange wears an orange robe and holds his hands together in front of his chest, standing beside a golden crowned object draped in white and yellow flower garlands. A man in a white dhoti and shirt stands beside him, and a woman in yellow and a man in orange cloth stand nearby. Around them, a dense crowd of devotees in white shirts and dhotis press close, some with their hands raised. Several people appear partially at the edges of the frame. A camera rig is visible on the right.2008-02-17Photograph of a ritual at a temple with a dark stone lingam-style shrine and a black stone bull (Nandi) figure on a grey stone platform. A bald man in an orange robe, with a rudraksha mala, reaches toward the offering table while a grey-bearded man bare-chested with a white sacred thread leans in from the lower right. Behind them, several men in orange and saffron robes stand and watch, and a man in a red shawl sits near a dark stone slab. Marigold garlands, a brass vessel, and lit oil lamps appear on the platform. Crowd members stand close behind the rail.2008-02-17Photograph of a crowded temple interior at night, with a black stone Nandi-type sacred bull statue on a white platform at centre, draped in a flower garland with yellow and orange blossoms. A bare-chested man in white dhoti and rudraksha mala stands at the platform's left, hands near the statue. To the right, a man in saffron robes with long grey hair and beard stands among devotees; a second bearded man in saffron stands nearby, and a shaved-headed priest in orange-saffron cloth and a bare upper body pours from a vessel onto the statue. Orange and yellow marigold garlands hang on dark pillars and black deity statues line the hall, with many onlookers and uniformed police behind.2008-02-17February 18 20082008-02-18Crowded temple scene at a night ritual. A central figure in saffron-orange robes with a crown-like headpiece and a shawl stands beside a black stone animal sculpture (a bull-like vahana) set on a white stone pedestal decorated with orange and white marigold garlands. A bearded man in white with a rudraksha-style bead necklace gestures and holds his palms together. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti holds a large grey stone-type tray of offerings overhead, with plates of food and a flame near the pedestal. Officers in khaki uniforms and caps stand at left, and devotees in saffron and pink turbans and white shirts press around. Dark stone pillars and additional garlands frame the background. The scene suggests a temple abhishekam or puja.2008-02-17July 13 20092009-07-13A photograph inside a temple at night showing a seated figure in an orange-saffron robe and orange turban, wearing a large garland of red, yellow and white flowers, sitting on a dark cloth-covered platform. A man in a white shirt and black trousers bends forward with palms pressed together over the platform, while a bare-chested priest with a sacred thread and a mala beside him holds a tray of bananas and fruit. Around them stand devotees in white dhotis and white shirts with folded hands, a woman in a green salwar with a dupatta, a man in a red shirt, and a bare-chested man with a tilaka and a mala. Two white-clad priests with tilaka marks sit at the lower right. Another orange-robed figure sits at the lower left. A lit temple lamp is visible at the top. The seated figure in orange with garland matches the page's description of a devotee receiving honours at Arunachaleshwara Temple, though the appearance cues are not conclusive.2008-01-02