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Night-time homa at a brick-lined fire pit, with a bright flame rising from the centre. On the right, a figure in orange-saffron robes with long swept-back hair, a rudraksha mala and forehead markings sits cross-legged at a microphone, holding a bundle of offerings toward the fire. Beside him, a second figure in orange robes sits with palms pressed together in namaskar. Fruit, flower garlands and a kalasha with mango leaves sit near the altar edge, and a dark crowd is visible behind them.

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Night-time homa at an outdoor ritual platform. A fire burns in a yellow-orange brick fire pit decorated with red and pink flower petals, with a white jasmine garland along its edge. A figure in saffron-orange robes with a long, swept-back dark hair, a red-and-white forehead mark and a long beaded orange mala sits cross-legged at a microphone, hands joined in prayer, with an orange cloth beneath him. Beside him a second priest in orange with a maroon headcloth, gold chain and glasses tends the fire, placing offerings into it. Trays of fruit, bananas, apples, pineapple and brass lamps sit at the left, and a brass vessel with a kumkum-marked cloth is at the right. Behind them a large seated crowd in white clothing fills the ground, with a white banner and lights in the background. Probable Swamiji seated at the microphone with long swept-back hair, saffron robes and rudraksha-style orange mala, presiding over the homa.2010-02-12A night outdoor homa at a tiered yellow brick fire altar on a white-draped table, with a flame rising from the centre and garlanded offerings, fruit, flowers and brass vessels arranged around it. A man in orange robes with long dark hair, a red tilak on his forehead and beaded garlands sits at a microphone, raising one hand toward the fire. Beside him a second man in saffron wraps and a turban holds a brass tray of offerings. A seated audience in white fills the foreground and background, with some people with palms joined. Strings of flowers hang from the altar edge.2010-02-12A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with long, swept-back dark hair, a gold-bead necklace and white ash markings on the forehead presses palms together in prayer beside an open fire pit, a homa, with orange flames. Another saffron-robed priest with a red-and-orange head wrap sits behind a bowl, and a seated audience fills the dim background. Fruit, flower garlands and a white garland sit on the altar, and a microphone stands at the right edge.2010-02-12Night outdoor homa ceremony at a raised orange-painted brick fire pit with an open flame, surrounded by flower garlands, fruit, brass vessels and offerings. A long-haired man in saffron-orange robes and multiple rudraksha-style beaded malas sits at a microphone, his forehead marked with white. Beside him a second man in orange robes and a gold necklace holds a brass plate and pours or offers from it. Behind them a large seated crowd, many with hands pressed in prayer, fills the dim open-air space.2010-02-12Night photograph of a homa fire ritual at the Kumbh Mela. A brick-lined fire pit blazes in the foreground with a tall flame. Two men in saffron-orange robes sit on mats behind it. The seated man at centre has curly hair and a red tilak, wears a saffron wrap and a beaded rudraksha-style mala, and holds a mala in his hands while tending the fire. The man at right wears an orange turban, a saffron robe and a heavy ceremonial gold necklace, and sits with hands folded. Behind them a crowd of devotees in orange and white sits watching, and brass plates of offerings lie on the mat. a person appears to be the man at centre, identified by his distinctive hair, saffron wrap, mala and ceremonial gold necklace cues, presiding over the homa.September 21 20062006-09-21 +1 copiesSeptember 21 20062006-09-21A 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.2009-06-09September 21 20062006-09-21June 09 20092009-06-09A night-time homa fire ritual outdoors, with a large flame rising from a brick-built fire pit in the foreground. A woman in red-orange sari with a marigold garland and gold necklace stirs or offers into the fire with a long ladle. Beside her, a shaved-headed priest in orange-red robes with rudraksha beads sits with hands joined in prayer, and further right a man in a red-orange head wrap and orange garments chants with palms pressed together. Brass bowls, a kalasha-like vessel, a trident wrapped in marigolds, and a decorated seat with deity murtis and flower garlands stand nearby. Floodlights illuminate a crowd of seated devotees behind the ritual area.2014-05-20Night outdoor homa at a raised platform draped in white cloth and garlanded with white jasmine and orange marigolds. A brick fire pit burns in the centre with a tall flame. A figure in saffron robes and a rudraksha mala, long swept-back dark hair and a red-and-white turban-like headwrap sits cross-legged with palms pressed together in namaste beside a second saffron-clad priest with a shaved head, also in prayer. Brass and copper pots, a kalasha, fruit, flowers and offerings lie on the platform, and rows of white-clad devotees with folded hands sit on the ground behind them. Probable Swamiji (long swept-back hair, saffron robes, rudraksha mala and ceremonial necklaces) is presiding over the fire ritual as the homa officiant.2010-02-12