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A 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.

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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.2010-02-12A 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.2010-02-12Night 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 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 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 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.2010-02-12A 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 photograph of a fire yajna in an open-sided pavilion decorated with palm fronds and a dark backdrop. A man with long dark hair, wearing an orange-saffron shawl, gold ornamental necklace and orange garment, sits cross-legged at the front of a raised rectangular fire pit bordered with pink, red and white flower garlands, pouring offerings with his hands. A younger man in white kurta and orange shawl kneels beside him at the pit. Several more people in white clothes and orange shawls sit on mats around the sacred space, and a silver kalasha and brass vessels stand near the pit. a person appears in this image, seated as the officiating priest of the homa. Offerings of flowers surround the altar. Visible people total roughly 15 seated participants.2006-07-18December 25 20072007-12-25A homa fire ritual in progress: a brick-lined fire pit with a bright flame, scattered pink flower petals and offerings such as lemons, brass bowls and a tray of grains. Three men in saffron-orange robes sit close by; the central figure, with an orange cloth and gold beaded necklace, holds his hands over the flame while the man on the left, with long dark hair and a rudraksha mala, holds a sacred item. A man in white with an orange shawl sits at right beside a microphone stand. Seated devotees in white and yellow clothing sit in the background, and a carved wooden chair stands behind the central figure.2009-06-09