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Outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with dense aerial roots. On the right, a decorated murti stands in a stone shrine adorned with multicolour flower garlands and a yellow garland. In front of it, a figure in white dhoti with a red shawl holds a lit lamp or aarti flame while seated on a mat. Along the left, a row of seated devotees in white and saffron clothing sit before a long line of brass plates, bowls and oil lamps, with a white-draped table in the centre. Several standing people in white clothes stand in the background, and a drum is visible near the mat.

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Outdoor ritual under a large banyan tree with hanging aerial roots. On the right, a decorated deity murti stands in a stone shrine heavily garlanded with multicolored flower strings and yellow marigold garlands. In front, a figure in white and saffron-bordered cloth with a rudraksha mala holds a lit oil lamp or aarti flame. Seated devotees in white and saffron clothing line the left side with brass plates, lamps and offerings, and a few standing devotees in white are behind them. A white-draped table and a drum sit in the middle ground, with a kalasha and silver vessels on a mat in front of the shrine.2005-12-22Outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree. A man with long dark hair, wearing a white dhoti and a saffron-and-yellow shawl, sits cross-legged on a raised stone platform with palms pressed together in prayer. In front of him are brass and silver ritual vessels, oil lamps, a small flame and offerings on a mat. To the right, a deity murti in a stone shrine is heavily garlanded with multicoloured flower strands and yellow marigold garlands, set on a rocky mound. Behind, several people in white robes stand and kneel, and a group in saffron robes sits in the foreground with a white-draped table nearby.2005-12-22Outdoors beneath a large banyan tree with hanging aerial roots, a long-haired figure in a yellow-and-white dhoti sits on a red cushioned seat with palms pressed together in prayer. In front is a white-draped low table, and brass plates, bowls, lamps and a metal pot are set on a woven mat. Behind, several saffron-robed men sit with hands folded, and people in white clothing stand and sit among the trees. To the right, a deity murti is garlanded with multicoloured flower chains and yellow garlands, next to a stone naga-like serpent form and a stone platform. A microphone stand stands near the seated figure.2005-12-22Outdoor puja beneath a large banyan tree with many hanging aerial roots. A figure with long, loose dark hair wearing a saffron-bordered yellow dhoti and a white shawl sits cross-legged on a red cushioned seat with hands joined in prayer, positioned in front of a white-draped low platform. To the right, a deity murti is adorned with thick garlands of multicoloured flowers and a yellow garland, and a large silver-toned metal cobra sculpture coils near the base. Brass and silver puja vessels, bowls, a lamp and a plate of rice sit on a woven mat in the foreground. Seated devotees in orange and white clothing line the left side with brass oil lamps and small offering dishes before them, while others in white sit and stand behind. Drums rest at the rear and a red umbrella stands near the shrine.2005-12-22Outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with sprawling aerial roots. A long-haired figure in a saffron-and-cream garment sits on a red cushioned seat, pouring from a silver vessel at a stone shrine. The shrine is wrapped in multicoloured flower garlands and has a carved metal serpent coiled along its base; a metallic deity murti stands within. Around them, shaven-headed attendants in saffron robes kneel with brass oil lamps, bowls and offerings on a patterned mat. Behind, people in white sit and stand, with drums and a microphone stand nearby.2005-12-22Outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with aerial roots. On the right, a deity murti stands in an arched silver-framed shrine on a rocky mound, draped in multicoloured flower garlands with yellow and green strands. In front, a seated priest with long dark hair and a rudraksha mala wears white and a red shawl, with a silver bowl and brass lamps arranged on a mat before him. Along the left, a row of people in white clothing and saffron-clad monks sit behind white-covered tables laden with brass vessels, oil lamps and offerings. A red umbrella stands near the priest and a small drum sits at the edge.2005-12-22Outdoor puja beneath a large banyan tree with many aerial roots. A long-haired man in a white dhoti with a yellow-bordered cloth sits cross-legged at a microphone stand, hands joined in prayer, at the centre of a ritual setting. Around him on a woven mat sit several saffron-robed monks with shaved heads, hands joined, and brass and silver vessels, bowls and oil lamps are arranged on a cloth. Behind them, devotees in white sit and stand. At right, a rock-like stone base holds a large carved snake and a colourful garland of flowers and beads draped over a deity murti, with a yellow-robed figure visible. A date stamp in red reads 21 12 2005.2005-12-22Outdoor puja beneath a large banyan tree with many hanging aerial roots. In the centre, a man with long dark hair, a white dhoti with a gold-bordered yellow edge and a red shawl sits on a mat, speaking into a microphone stand. Two saffron-robed sannyasis sit to his left with brass vessels and bowls set before them. Behind, a row of people in white clothes sit on the ground, a few appearing to be women in white saris. To the right, a stone shrine holds a deity murti decorated with multicolored and green garlands, with a grey cobra sculpture and brass oil lamps set in front. A red-and-pink stone base supports the shrine, and a red-and-white date stamp reads 21 12 2005.2005-12-22A photograph of an outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with aerial roots. In the foreground, several men in saffron-orange robes sit cross-legged on a mat before rows of brass plates, bowls and small oil lamps. At centre, a woman in a white and gold-bordered sari with a rudraksha mala sits beside a lit lamp or fire, and a man in white stands behind her. To the right, a stone shrine holds a deity murti draped in multicoloured flower garlands and a large snake-shaped stone. Other devotees in white clothing sit in the background, and a drummer or musician sits at right. A date stamp reads 21 12 2005.2005-12-22Outdoor ritual under large banyan trees. A long-haired man in white dhoti with a yellow-and-white shawl and beaded necklace sits cross-legged on a mat before a stone-bordered shrine. The shrine holds a silver-framed deity murti draped in colourful flower garlands and marigold strings. In front, bronze and silver vessels, bowls, lamps and offerings are arranged on a mat. Along the left, saffron-robed monks sit in rows with brass pots and plates. Behind them, people in white sit near drums and a white-draped table.2005-12-22Outdoor ritual puja at a shrine under a large shady tree. A richly decorated deity murti stands on a red stone base, framed by a multicolored flower garland arch and a yellow and white garland. Seated devotees in orange and white clothes sit on a raised platform, with brass vessels, bowls and offering plates in front. A man in white stands at the centre, and a woman in a white sari with a red-orange shawl sits near the shrine holding a lamp. Several orange-clad and white-clad participants sit in rows, and long orange-tipped staffs or flags are planted around the platform.2005-12-22A photograph of an outdoor ritual beneath a large banyan tree with aerial roots. A long-haired man in white dhoti with a gold-bordered yellow cloth, a red shawl draped over his shoulders, and a dark rudraksha mala sits on a red seat in front of a microphone stand, hands folded. Around him, silver vessels, a silver kalasha-style bowl, a silver lamp stand with lit oil lamps, and brass dishes are arranged on woven mats. A monk in saffron robes sits at the left, and several white-clad devotees sit and stand nearby under the trees. A marigold garland lies near a silver bowl on the right side. Date stamp in red reads 21 12 2005.2005-12-22