The woman portrayed here performs pooja (or puja), a religious
ceremony of praise. The date of this photograph in early November suggests that
this woman performs the ceremony for the Hindu holiday Diwali, the annual
festival of light observed between mid-October and mid-November. During the
pooja ritual, believers offer flowers, food, herbs, clothing, and money to the
deities, especially Lakshmi, goddess of fortune and wealth. Surrounded by
offerings, the woman is dressed in a traditional sari of festive red and gold, enhanced here with hand coloring
and glitter to reflect light in the spirit of the holiday.