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A night-time photograph of a homa or puja at a temple pavilion with a corrugated metal roof. A large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, draped in white and red garlands, stands behind a fire pit with rising smoke and brass vessels. Priests in white dhotis and shawls perform rites: a standing priest at left swings a metal vessel, and a seated priest at lower right bends over the fire pit. A man in an orange turban and white clothing stands at right near a red-cushioned seat, and young boys in white sit in front. Strings of coloured lights and a white ceremonial umbrella frame the scene. Marigold petals cover the floor. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night-time homa ceremony in a covered hall with a fire pit lined with white stone in the foreground, smoke rising from it. Behind is a large Devi murti with many arms and a lion mount, under a white decorative canopy, with a Ganesha figure at left and smaller deity murtis and flower garlands around. Several young boys in white dhotis sit in rows along the altar. A man in a white garment and turban stands at right, hands folded, near a red and gold throne with string lights and garlands behind it. A tall elderly sadhu with white hair, tonsured forehead markings, rudraksha mala, and an orange-brown wrap stands at far right holding a tray. Kalasha pots and brass vessels sit on the platform with flower petals scattered around.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a homa ritual at night in a covered pandal, with smoke rising from a square fire pit in the foreground. Behind it stands a large deity murti, a goddess with multiple arms, decorated with white flower garlands and a white canopy overhead, flanked by additional painted and decorated figures. A man in white dhoti and shawl holds a silver vessel and stands at left, with other priests in white dhoti seated along the altar, some holding offerings. Brass pots, lamps and scattered flower petals fill the altar. Strings of lights and colourful hangings decorate the background. Several white-clad men and boys sit around the homa area.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual held before a large Durga deity murti with a white floral halo, a lion mount, and a white parasol canopy overhead. A seated priest in white clothes and a flower garland kneels at a square fire pit (homa kund) with offerings and brass vessels on its white stone edge. Smoke rises through the hall. Behind, a shaved-headed elderly man with white body markings and a rudraksha mala stands, while a man in a yellow turban and white garments stands near a red and gold throne. Several boys and men in white sit on the floor, and decorative festive bunting and string lights hang in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photo of a Chandi Homa puja inside a temple-like hall. A large white deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms stands behind a white square homa fire pit with brass vessels, flowers and a cloth arrangement in front. White-clad priests in dhotis and shawls perform rituals, one bending low at the fire pit, another holding a brass item. A seated priest in white is at the left, and on the right a man in a saffron-orange robe and tall tan-coloured turban stands near a red and gold throne. Smoke rises through the air, and colourful lights hang in the background. A white umbrella canopy hangs above the deity.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night ritual inside a decorated temple hall with a large deity murti of a goddess, surrounded by smaller painted clay-style figures and white floral halo arches. In the foreground a priest in white dhoti with a bare upper body and a gold garland kneels beside a black square fire pit (homa kunda) on a white stepped platform, with flower petals and brass vessels nearby, and brass oil lamps and bells on the left. A child in white sits near the left lamp. Standing at right, a man in saffron robes with a bare torso and white body markings holds his hands in añjali, while another standing figure in white wears a yellow turban and holds a tray. Red and gold hangings and string lights decorate the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Chandi Homa-style puja inside a decorated temple hall at night, with red and white fairy lights and orange hangings. A large white-and-gold framed deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms stands at the back, flanked by smaller painted and clay figures, and a red-and-gold umbrella hangs above. In the foreground, shaven-headed priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies, wearing gold necklaces and vibhuti marks, sit before a black-topped white altar with brass bowls, a bell, flowers and a kalasha, performing the ritual. Several women in red and maroon saris sit nearby, and more devotees are seated in the background. Smoke rises from the ritual area.2010-10-16A photograph of a Chandi homa at night inside a decorated temple pandal. A white-clad priest kneels before a square white fire pit with a black slab, while offering items and brass vessels sit on its steps. Behind, a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms stands under a white ornate arch, flanked by lamps. A bearded sannyasi with a turban and white forehead and arm markings, wearing rust-orange robes, raises his hands in front of a tray. Another white-turbaned man holds a silver plate. Several boys in white sit near the murtis. Strings of fairy lights, a brass oil lamp and scattered petals complete the scene.2010-10-16A night-time homa ritual beside a deity shrine under a sheltered open courtyard. In the foreground, a bare-chested man with a shaved head and a gold-coloured necklace sits on a white cloth. A white-clad priest stands at left holding a flaming vessel or torch aloft. Boys in white dhotis and kurtas sit cross-legged around a black square fire pit or yagna kunda on a white marble platform, with brass plates and vessels of offerings, fruit and flower petals. Behind the pit, large white-and-silver decorated deity murtis under a white fringed umbrella, one adorned with red garlands. Strings of coloured lights and hanging lanterns decorate the scene. Several other white-clad people are visible in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual at an ashram shrine. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha-style necklace, holds a flaming lamp over the fire pit area near a white-tiled raised altar. Seated priests in white clothes and bead necklaces are at left and right, with a shaved-head devotee in white at the right edge. Behind the altar are large colourful deity murtis, including a multi-armed goddess with a lion and a Ganesha figure, decorated with white and silver tinsel-like ornamentation, marigold garlands and an ornate umbrella. Strings of fairy lights, hanging coloured cloth decorations and a tiled floor with flower petals complete the scene. Several young boys in white sit in the background.2010-10-16 +2 copiesA night-time photograph inside a decorated temple hall during a Chandi homa. In the centre, a square fire pit lined with white stone sits on a cloth-covered floor scattered with flower petals, with brass vessels and oil lamps nearby. A young man in white ritual cloth and a rudraksha-style necklace kneels at the pit. Behind, a standing man in white with a saffron-coloured cloth over the shoulder holds a brass plate, and a man in saffron robes stands beside him. On the right, a bearded sadhu in orange-red cloth with white forehead markings and a mala stands with his arms folded. Behind them is a large deity murti with a lion, framed by white decorative arches and garlands, with several children in white seated near the altar.2010-10-16Photograph of a nighttime homa ceremony before a large deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms, in a decorated hall with hanging lights and smoke rising. A man in white dhoti and white shirt kneels at a square fire pit, tending it with offerings, with brass vessels, lamps and flower petals on the white platform. To the right, a man in white robes and a white turban holds a plate of offerings. Beside him stands an older sadhu with a white beard, bare upper body, white markings on his arms, and a red-orange cloth wrapped around his waist. Behind them a red throne with gold trim sits empty, and other white-clad devotees are seated in the background.2010-10-16