October 27 2014 - Nithyanandapedia

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October 27 2014

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October 27 2014

Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion. In the foreground a large fire burns in a tiered yagna kunda decorated with marigold garlands and red kumkum. Behind it a priest in white dhoti with a saffron-and-gold shawl holds a vessel over the flames and offers oblations, while a second priest in cream dhoti with a gold border holds a bundle of kusha grass beside him. At right a man in a saffron dhoti with a red rudraksha mala and bare chest, hands folded in anjali, stands by a table of flowers and offerings. Behind them more white-clad priests tend additional fire pits under bamboo-supported roofing, with a deity shrine lit at the back. Coconuts, flowers and brass pots sit on the ground.

A night homa in progress at a yellow-and-white square fire pit filled with logs and burning embers, with smoke rising. A young priest in white dhoti and a white head wrap, bare-chested with rudraksha malas and sandalwood markings, pours or tends offerings at the fire with a stick. Behind him, a shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits attentively, and several women in orange saris with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings sit at left. Devotees in white shirts and dark clothes sit in the background among dim lights.

Outdoor evening homa at night before a large deity murti of Ganesha draped in orange and decorated with marigold garlands. A square yellow fire pit burns with a flame at its centre, surrounded by silver bowls of offerings, a kalasha and small oil lamps. A priest in a rust-orange robe with a red turban and white painted markings on his arms sits on the left making offerings with his hands. Three young men in white dhotis with rudraksha malas sit cross-legged on the right, one with hands folded and another with a microphone in front of him. Silver bowls of white flowers and red roses sit in the foreground, and a bowl of white offerings is on the striped mat.

Night outdoor fire ritual, a homa with a bright open flame rising from a pile of wood and offerings at the lower left. A standing priest with a shaved head and a bare chest wears a white dhoti with a red-and-gold sash and bows with palms pressed together in namaskar. Beside him another man in orange-toned dhoti stands with bare chest and bead necklace. A seated devotee at right wears a pink turban, layered white rudraksha and flower garlands, and holds a rudraksha mala while looking down at the fire. Yellow and orange marigold flowers, potted plants, a brass bowl and a golden deity murti or ornate altar stand at the sides, with a row of people watching from the background and a tall building and lights at night.

A night-time fire ritual, a homa, at an outdoor square-brick fire pit lined in gold-painted border. A large flame rises from the pit. Four priests in white dhotis with rudraksha malas and white tilak marks sit on the ground, and one in saffron/orange robes with a rudraksha mala holds a ladle at the pit edge; a young assistant in a white dhoti with a red-pink headcloth pours from a copper vessel. Brass pots, steel bowls of grains and yellow flowers surround the fire. Seated devotees in white and red shawls watch from plastic chairs behind, around 20 visible.

August 05 2016

A homa fire ritual at night in an outdoor setting. A bare-chested priest with a white sacred thread, rudraksha mala and gold chain sits behind a brick fire pit where a tall flame rises, with a steel bowl of ghee or liquid offering held by a second person in the foreground. The second person wears a magenta head-wrap, a rudraksha necklace and a light cloth. Behind the fire, flower garlands in orange and yellow, coconuts and a large floral-decorated deity murti or pot are arranged. Marigold petals and red flowers are scattered on the bricks.

Night-time Ganapati homa at an outdoor ashram setting. A golden-yellow square fire pit holds a flaming fire, with smoke rising. Several priests sit around it in saffron/orange robes and white dhotis, with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings; the priest at right wears a red and gold turban and white garment with gold border and offers something into the fire. Silver and brass vessels, a small pot with yellow flowers, and bowls of grain sit at the edges. Behind them a seated audience in white and red-sashed clothing fills the background, with a microphone stand visible at left. A partial garland hangs in the background.

Night photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open outdoor courtyard. A large stone fire pit with rising flames sits at the centre, with offerings of flowers and red petals around its base. Three priests in white dhotis stand behind it; the central priest wears a white shawl and a rudraksha mala and holds a vessel over the fire, while a priest on the right, in a white garment with a mala, leans in to assist. A priest with a white turban stands on the left. A wooden carved disc stands beside the pit. A seated priest in the foreground, shown from behind, holds his hands in namaskar. A row of seated devotees watches from the left, and a standing devotee with folded hands appears at the right edge. Brass lamps, plates of offerings and a decorated seat sit on a cloth to the right, under strings of leaf garlands and a painted pillar.

2010-10-16 +1 copies

A night-time homa in progress at a square fire pit lined with yellow and orange marigold garlands. A central priest, bare-chested with a pink turban and many marigold garlands, sits cross-legged before a tall flame and tosses offerings into it. Beside him, a man in an orange shawl and white dhoti speaks into a handheld microphone and holds a basket of wood sticks. Other bare-chested men in white dhotis and garlands sit around the fire, and a man in a green cloth bends forward at the back. Baskets of offerings and small brass vessels rest on the ground.

2016-02-22 +1 copies

Night photo of a homa fire ritual at an open temple courtyard. In the centre, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a gold-and-saffron cloth draped over the shoulder holds a silver vessel with a coconut and fruit toward a stone fire pit with bright flames and flower garlands. Beside him, another priest in a white dhoti with yellow borders holds ritual items and performs the offering. At right, a priest with folded palms wears red beads and a yellow-and-blue dhoti. Brass pots, marigold garlands and red offerings lie around the fire, and a shrine with deity murti and wooden pillars with bamboo scaffolding stands behind. Several more priests in white are visible at left.