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A night-time outdoor gathering in front of a temple entrance with stone pillars and yellow-painted walls. A small fire burns in a square pit at the centre, with offerings and oil lamps around it. Seated men and women in white, yellow, red and purple saris and shirts surround the fire, while children and onlookers stand along the edge. A framed deity or saint image sits on a raised platform behind the fire. A bald man in white clothing sits near the fire, and another man in white sits to the right, facing the fire.

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October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time photograph of a seated group inside a stone-walled temple courtyard. At the centre, a priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha-style mala and gold necklace, sits behind a square brick fire pit (homa kund) scattered with marigold petals and ash. Beside it, a framed portrait of a woman in orange garments and a garland sits on a white cloth with flowers. Around them, adults in saris and a man in white sit listening, while many children sit cross-legged in a wide circle in the foreground. A woman in an orange sari stands behind them near the wall, and a small child is held nearby. Oil lamps and flower offerings lie on the ground. +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesA photograph of a homa fire burning inside a square fire pit built from yellow-painted bricks, with a brass vessel beside it. Children and teenagers sit and stand in a tight circle around the fire on dusty ground under a large tree. A young man on the left wears an orange shawl with a rudraksha-style mala and sits beside a priest in white ritual dhoti and shawl with yellow borders who sits with his back to the camera. Boys in white shirts, striped shirts and a pink top watch intently, some with hands raised, and a girl in a pink top with a braid sits in front. Several people in the background wear yellow, green and red saris and kurtas. The scene suggests a sacred fire ritual with young participants.2006-05-05Night photo of a homa or fire ritual in an open-air temple courtyard. A small fire burns in a pit of stacked bricks at the lower right, with a brass pot and offerings nearby. A large crowd of women in saris sits cross-legged on mats in a circle, many in orange, blue, green and purple. A woman in a green sari stands at the left, and a priest in white kneels at the right beside the fire. Green mango-leaf torans hang overhead, and bright lights illuminate the scene. Pillars and a shrine area with lamps are visible behind.2006-10-25Night photograph of a homa fire ceremony in a stone-walled courtyard. A small square brick fire pit holds a bright flame, with marigold petals scattered around it. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold necklace sits cross-legged before the fire, hands folded, beside a fruit-laden offering tray and a small oil lamp. Beside him a man in a light shirt and white dhoti sits with hands clasped. Behind them a seated crowd of men, women and children watches, some in saris and salwar kameez. A standing man in a dark tracksuit stands near a grilled window, and a man in orange and white sits on a ledge at right. +1 copiesNight-time homa at an open-air ashram site. A central fire pit is framed by a white stone yagna platform with brass vessels, marigold petals and a brass lamp. Seated near the front on the right, a bearded man in saffron robes and rudraksha mala sits with hands joined in prayer, appearing to lead the ritual. Several saffron-clad participants sit in front of the platform with palms pressed together, including a figure with a long braid and a figure with a long pale braid wearing saffron. Behind them, men in white dhotis with yellow shawls sit or stand with folded hands among banana plants and white plastic chairs. Visible people total roughly twenty.2009-09-26Night photograph of an outdoor temple-courtyard ritual beside a lit fire pit at the lower right. A shaved-headed man in white dhoti and kurta with a yellow shawl and rudraksha mala stands in the centre, holding a red cloth-wrapped bundle with yellow flowers, leaning toward a line of women with outstretched hands. A seated priest in white dhoti with a cloth and garland tends the fire with a long iron ladle, and a framed portrait with flower garlands sits at right. Standing men in white shirts and dark clothing watch from behind, a woman in a patterned sari sits at left, and a child stands at the far right. Stone pillars and warm lights frame the courtyard. +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copies