Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night photograph of a ceremony at a decorated temple-style stage. In the foreground a shaven-headed man in white dhoti and shawl with a gold necklace extends his hand over a fire pit or basin edged with scattered flowers. Behind him a standing man in a cream turban, white garment and gold garland smiles and holds up a hand, while a younger man in white with a microphone speaks. Small boys in white sit on the floor by a brass oil lamp with a flame, and a seated man in white is nearby. Behind them stand a silver-decorated deity murti and goddess figures, with string lights, a red banner with script, and a red-upholstered gilded chair at right.

More like this

Open the gallery
Night photo of a ritual at a homa fire pit in front of colourful deity murtis and garlanded figures. In the foreground a bare-chested man in white dhoti and shawl, with a gold-beaded necklace, kneels at the fire pit and tends the offerings. Behind him a man in a light-coloured turban and white garment stands with hands together, while further back a man in white ritual clothing stands beside several young boys in white sitting on the floor. A figure in a cream turban and white garment stands beside a red-and-gold ornate throne, and an older bearded man in orange robes stands at the right edge holding a silver tray. Strings of lights and the smoke of the fire fill the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16A homa ritual is performed before a shrine decorated with deity murtis under a fringed canopy and string lights. Smoke rises from a square fire pit on a white base strewn with flower petals. A man in white dhoti and gold necklace sits cross-legged at right, extending his hand toward the fire, with a brass bowl beside him. A standing priest at left, wearing a white dhoti and holding a silver plate, offers materials into the fire. Other white-clad priests stand behind, and brass lamps and a kalasha sit near the shrine.2010-10-16Dim temple interior during a fire ritual. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold chain holds an object over a dark stone platform where smoke rises. Behind him, another priest in white stands near a garlanded deity murti and multiple statues under an ornate canopy, with string lights along the walls. In the foreground, a seated man in white dhoti and shawl wears a gold mala, glasses and a bare upper body, extending his hand over the platform. Brass bowls, a small oil lamp and scattered flower petals sit on the white step. The scene suggests a homa or puja, with the figures in ritual white clothing.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15Night photograph of a homa fire ritual at an open-air ceremonial area. In the foreground a fire pit burns beside a carved wooden or stone yoni-style base and brass plates. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a tan turban holds a flaming lamp and a bell, while a shaved-headed priest in white with a red-bordered cloth and rudraksha mala holds a brass bowl. Behind them, shaved-headed priests in white clothes stand with palms pressed together, and a row of young boys in white with red scarves sits on the left. Green leaf garlands and a decorated pillar with colourful patterns frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time homa ritual at an outdoor temple setting strung with coloured fairy lights and green bunting. A standing priest in white dhoti and bare upper body, with a rudraksha-style necklace, leans over a square fire pit filled with glowing embers and tends the fire with a long stick. Seated white-clad participants in the foreground, some with shaved heads and folded hands, watch and assist; brass trays of flowers and offerings sit near them. Behind the fire pit is a decorated shrine with a pink Ganesha deity murti, garlands of marigold and white flowers, a kalasha-style ornament and a decorated canopy.2010-10-15A photograph of a Navaratri-style ritual on a decorated stage with a large painted deity backdrop showing a multi-armed goddess with raised weapons, surrounded by white floral garlands and a green leaf torana strung across the top. In the foreground, a priest in white dhoti and upper cloth stands with his back to the camera, while a bald man in white clothing kneels beside a low white platform holding ritual items. Several young girls in red and maroon traditional dress sit with brass plates, kalashas and oil lamps. On the right, a person in white robes and a white turban sits on an ornate red and gold throne, with another orange-robed man seated beside. Small children and onlookers sit in the lower foreground, and string lights glow in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa at a square fire pit lined with white stone and scattered flower petals, with a bright orange fire burning inside. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold necklace pours an offering from a brass bowl into the fire, while another priest in white with a red-striped cloth kneels at right holding a silver plate of offerings. Seated on a gold-framed red throne at the back, a figure in white robes with a white turban and beads observes, and a man in orange robes sits in a cream armchair at right. Women in red and maroon saris sit at left beside a decorated deity murti garlanded with white and red flowers, and brass oil lamps and kalasha vessels surround the fire pit under strings of red lights.2010-10-16A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a decorated hall with a large deity murti of a goddess on the left, draped in white and floral garlands, and strings of red lights behind. A seated man in white dhoti and shawl with a gold mala and folded glasses sits before a rectangular fire pit smoking with a homa, with brass vessels, petals and dry sticks in front. On the right, a bald man in white with gold necklaces and a saffron-and-white turban raises one hand while seated on an ornate red-and-gold throne. Three women in orange and red saris sit beside the fire pit with a lamp. A man in white and red-bordered shawl reads from a book standing behind them, and another man in orange robes sits at far right.2010-10-16