Respecting the murtis

Hindus show their respect for the murtis in a number of ways. At the crack of dawn, the murtis are softly woken with music. The priest of the mandir then bathes the murtis. Bathing is usually symbolic and includes the washing and drying of the feet of the murtis.

The murtis are then dressed in clean clothes and decorated with ornaments. At midday, a meal is offered to the murtis, and at night, the curtains around the shrines are drawn, allowing them to sleep.

All these actions are done out of respect for the gods who, Hindus believe, inhabit the murtis.