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A 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.

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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.2010-02-12A 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.2010-02-12Photo 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 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 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 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.2010-02-12Night outdoor fire ritual. A long-haired figure in orange robes with rudraksha malas and a gold chain sits cross-legged, reaching a hand toward offerings and smoke, with a small bowl of white material nearby. Behind, an older bald-headed priest in orange with glasses and a red-and-orange shawl leans in holding a tray. Fruits including bananas, apples and a pomegranate sit on the platform, with brass vessels, a lit oil lamp and a microphone stand at the right. Seated devotees in white clothing with folded hands watch from the left, and a crowd fills the background. a person cues: long dark hair, orange robes, rudraksha malas and gold chain, seated at the central ritual.2010-02-12A homa fire ceremony on a stage decorated with marigold and flower garlands. A long-haired figure in orange robes sits cross-legged at left with palms pressed together in namaste, a small ornament at the neck, while a second person in orange sits behind, holding a long ceremonial stick. In front, a fire burns on a raised altar of wooden pieces, with fruits, flowers, a brass bowl and incense sticks around it. Behind, a painted mountain backdrop sets off an ornate gold throne-like seat, and a small television screen shows a live feed of the ceremony. a person: the long-haired figure in orange with swept-back hair and ceremonial jewellery, seated in a priestly role at the homa.2010-02-12A photograph of a homa at a fire altar built from stacked orange bricks, with a flame rising at the centre and offerings of bananas, an orange, a pineapple, flowers and sticks in front. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with long swept-back hair and a sandalwood tilak raises both hands over the fire, while a second seated person in orange clothing sits behind, and a microphone stands at left. Behind them a painted backdrop shows a snow-capped mountain under a sunset sky, with a golden throne, a small television screen and a garlanded marigold decoration. Swamiji (probable): the seated figure in front has long swept-back hair, saffron robes, gold necklaces and a tilak, and is performing the homa.2010-02-12A photograph of a homa ritual at night under a canopy. A man with long swept-back hair, a vibhuti mark on his forehead, an orange saffron robe and a beaded garland sits on a yellow brick platform, holding a flaming ladle over a fire pit and smiling. Smoke rises to the right. Behind him, a kalasha pot wrapped in white flower garlands sits beside offerings of fruit and flowers, and a few seated figures in orange robes are partially visible in the background. Colourful striped pillars and a draped cloth frame the scene.2010-02-12A photograph of a ritual scene with a man in long swept-back dark hair seated at left, wearing an orange-saffron robe and gold-toned necklaces, holding a silver vessel and a small object while seated on a low wooden platform in front of a microphone stand. Behind him a small monitor shows a temple image. At right a deity murti or linga stands on a yellow-brown brick-like altar garlanded with white and pink flowers, with a bowl of fruit, bananas and a pineapple, and marigold garlands. A painted backdrop shows a snowy mountain and golden sky, with an empty golden throne. Dried wood sticks lie in the foreground.2010-02-12A seated man in saffron-orange robes with long swept-back dark hair, a red bindi and white vibhuti on his forehead, and a gold bead necklace, holds pink flower petals over a homa fire pit with smoke rising. Beside him, another man in orange clothes with gold necklaces sits with hands folded in prayer. Yellow-orange ritual platform in front holds banana leaves, flowers and offerings; a brass kalasha with white garland and pink flowers stands at right, and white-clad priests sit in the background under a draped ceiling.2010-02-12