Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a ritual inside a decorated hall. A long-haired man in orange robes with a gold-looking chain sits on the left, placing his hand on the head of a seated devotee in the foreground who is bald and in the lower frame. Beside him a second man in orange with a gold necklace and bangle holds a brass bowl and a small metal vessel. In front is a wooden platform with a mound of fruit, flowers, incense sticks and a decorated kalasha or pot with a garland. Behind them a backdrop painting shows a mountain and sunset, a flat-screen monitor displays an image, and garlands and flower swags hang along the stage. Smoke rises near the altar. Several people are visible at the edges.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a homa ritual. A seated figure in orange robes with long dark hair, a tilak on the forehead and a gold bead necklace holds a round gold-coloured plate toward a fire-ritual setup while speaking into a microphone. Beside him, a man in orange clothing with glasses assists, holding a small dish, and another orange-clad person sits behind. In the foreground a bald man in white clothing bends over the ritual offerings, with incense sticks and small bowls of powder nearby. Behind the altar, a painted backdrop shows a mountain and sunset sky, and a golden throne-style seat is decorated with garlands of marigold and rose petals. A decorated kalasha with flowers sits on the altar.2010-02-12A photograph of a homa ritual. A long-haired man in orange robes with a gold necklace leans over a brick fire pit, pouring offerings into rising smoke, while a second orange-robed priest sits beside him. A shaved-headed devotee in the foreground is seated before the altar. Offerings of fruit, flowers, coconut and a silver tray of white material sit on the platform, next to a decorated kalasha wrapped in a garland. Behind them hangs a painted mountain backdrop, a gold throne, and draped festoons of marigolds and gold cloth. The man with the swept-back long hair and gold necklace has distinctive ceremonial cues, so he is a probable Swamiji candidate officiating the homa.2010-02-12Photo of a homa fire ceremony on a stage backdrop painted with a snow-capped mountain under a sky of blue, orange and yellow. A man with long dark hair and white ash markings on his forehead wears an orange robe and holds a silver tray of flowers and food while extending his other hand over a fire pit. Behind him, a second orange-robed man sits in a similar pose. The fire rises from a brick-lined altar decorated with flowers. An ornate golden throne stands empty at the back of the stage, framed by marigold and rose garlands and yellow-and-purple festoons. A small screen and microphones are visible on the stage.2010-02-12A photograph of a homa-style ritual on a stage. A man with long swept-back dark hair, wearing an orange saffron garment, a rudraksha-style gold bead necklace and a sandalwood-marked forehead, sits on the left and holds a round brass plate over an offering area. Behind him, a second orange-clad person sits with a shaved head. In the foreground, a shaved-head devotee in white sits before a low brick fire pit strewn with bananas, oranges, marigolds and wood sticks. Behind the altar stands a painted mountain backdrop, a golden throne draped with flower garlands, a framed picture and a decorated Shiva linga surrounded by flower garlands and a kalasha.2010-02-12A photograph of a homa or puja at an outdoor evening event under a tent. A sitting man in saffron-orange robes with long swept-back black hair, a red forehead mark and a long beaded gold-toned necklace holds a brass plate and speaks into a microphone. Beside him, a second man in orange robes with long hair and a similar beaded necklace sits behind a low yellow platform. The platform holds banana fruit, orange, scattered flower petals, a small flame, a silver vessel and a decorated kalasha with white and pink garlands. Colourful painted pillars and draped cloth frame the background.2010-02-12A photograph of a ritual at a decorated altar. A figure in orange robes with long, swept-back dark hair and gold ornaments on the arm sits cross-legged at the right, leaning over a tiered yellow-ochre platform holding a small kalasha with white flower garlands and marigold offerings. A shaved-headed person in white stands in the foreground, and an orange-robed attendant with a shaved head sits at the left near brass plates and incense sticks. Marigold and red-flower garlands drape the altar, and a screen shows a painted mountain backdrop behind. a person: the robed figure in orange with long swept-back hair and gold adornments, performing the homa/abhishekam offering.2010-02-12A photograph of a fire ritual on a stage. A long-haired figure in orange robes sits cross-legged at left with palms pressed together in namaskar, a microphone before him. Beside him a younger person in orange with a beaded necklace sits behind a brass bowl. At centre, a flame rises from a brick homa pit decorated with flowers, fruit and a kalasha with a coconut and mango leaves. Wooden sticks and offerings lie in the foreground. Behind them a painted backdrop shows a snow-capped mountain under a colourful sky, marigold garlands drape the stage, and an empty ornate golden throne stands at right. A television in the background shows a figure in orange speaking, consistent with a live broadcast of a homa ritual.2010-02-12A night-time outdoor homa ceremony under a tent canopy. A man with long swept-back dark hair, orange robes, a gold-bead necklace and a tilak on his forehead sits on an orange cushion, holding a long ladle-like offering spoon over a fire, with flames and a yellow offering visible near the fire pit. Beside him a younger priest in orange robes and a gold-bead garland sits with a brass vessel and bowls in front of him. A microphone stands nearby, and a raised platform is decorated with flower garlands, fruits, and a kalasha with marigold garlands at the right edge. Colourful painted pillars and a green curtain frame the background.2010-02-12A photograph of a homa (fire ritual) in progress at night. Two saffron-robed sannyasis sit cross-legged behind a low brick fire pit lined with yellow bricks. The figure on the left, with long swept-back hair, a saffron shawl and a long garland of white flowers, holds a red tray with a flaming offering. The second sannyasi, in a saffron robe and garland, sits beside a brass kalasha and small metal vessels, pouring from a ladle. A flower-garlanded kalasha stands at the right edge. Smoke fills the background, where white-clad devotees stand near draped curtains with floral garlands and a sound speaker. Fruit and offerings lie in the foreground.2010-02-12A photograph of a fire ritual at an outdoor pavilion. A man with long swept-back dark hair and a tilak on his forehead, wearing an orange saffron robe and a long gold-beaded necklace, holds a brass tray with a flaming camphor or ghee lamp over a red-draped offering. Beside him, a second man in an orange robe and beaded necklace rings a handbell. In front, a yellow brick homa pit holds brass vessels, flower petals and offerings. Behind them, white-clad participants sit among tall striped pillars, pink and yellow garlands, and a floral-decorated altar with a kalasha-like vessel. Smoke hangs in the air. Swamiji (probable) is the man holding the flame, identified by his long hair, orange saffron robe and gold necklace.2010-02-12A night-time ritual at an outdoor pandal with colourful striped pillars. A man with long swept-back dark hair, an orange robe and gold bead necklaces holds a long wooden stick with a flame at its tip above a fire pit or lamp, speaking into a microphone. Beside him, a second man in orange with a gold necklace sits behind a brass pot, with flowers, fruit and a white garland-decorated kalasha on a yellow platform in the foreground. Swamiji (probable): the seated man in the foreground shows long swept-back hair, an orange robe and gold beaded necklaces while presiding over the homa with a flaming stick, and is presumed to be the presiding figure of the event. Rudra Homa ritual in progress.2010-02-12Night outdoor ritual on a raised platform with a crowd behind. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes with a white forehead mark and gold-beaded necklaces holds up a round brass plate with one hand while speaking into a microphone. Beside him, a second man in orange robes and beaded necklaces bends over an offering table. The table holds marigold and flower garlands, a kalasha-style vessel, brass bowls and a fire pit with incense sticks, consistent with a homa or puja. Strings of white flowers and green leaves hang at the front.2010-02-12