Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a homa or yagna ritual at night in a decorated hall strung with warm fairy lights. Four women sit on the floor in red and maroon silk saris, one holding a coconut and another offering flowers, beside a fire pit with offerings. Behind them, a man in a white dhoti and orange-gold shawl holds a silver tray, and white-clad attendants stand nearby. On the right, a pink Ganesha murti and a white-decorated deity murti stand under a multicoloured canopy, with marigold garlands and a brass lamp in front. A carved wooden seat stands at left with fruit, rice and brass vessels on the platform.

More like this

Open the gallery
October 16 20102010-10-16A night-time ritual photograph at a temple-like hall strung with small warm lights. Four women seated on the floor in silk saris (maroon, red and gold, and white with red border) hold offerings such as fruit and flowers in their hands. In front of them is a carved wooden seat with a wheel-like pattern, and a stone-edged yantra/homa area with brass vessels, fruits, coconut and a small lamp. On the left, a man in white dhoti with a red border pours or tends from a vessel, and another person in orange and gold kneels nearby. Behind, a pink and white decorated Ganesha murti and a decorated goddess murti stand beside a brass oil lamp and a garlanded arrangement. A decorative umbrella hangs above the altar.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a ritual scene at night, lit by string lights and an oil lamp. Several women in silk saris sit on the floor in front of a carved wooden seat with a lotus-like medallion. A woman in an orange-gold sari bends forward toward the seat, and a woman in a maroon sari holds offerings. At left, two men in white dhotis with maroon borders stand, one holding a silver tray. Brass oil lamps, bowls of fruit, limes, flowers and a black stone platform sit in the foreground. Behind them stand pink and white clay murti of Ganesha and a goddess adorned with garlands. No visible person is identified as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa ritual before a decorated shrine of deity murtis, including a large Ganesha figure with pink skin and red garland and a goddess murti with a lion beside her, all garlanded in white and yellow flowers, with strings of fairy lights behind. Six young women sit in a row on purple and red cloth, wearing red and orange sarees with flower garlands and holding pink and yellow flowers, several with rudraksha-style mala necklaces. In the foreground a shaven-headed priest with bare back faces the fire pit, a sacred fire smoking before him, with brass oil lamps and offerings nearby. Other white-clad priests stand at the right with ceremonial gold necklaces. Flower petals scatter the ground.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time puja inside a decorated pandal before large white-and-gold deity figures, including a multi-armed goddess with a lion mount and a pink-bodied elephant-headed figure at left. Several women in red and maroon silk saris sit on the floor holding pink lotus flowers, while others in white garments kneel nearby. Brass oil lamps and kalasha vessels stand among scattered flower petals. A wooden seat is in the foreground, and behind a gold-trimmed red throne a robed man in white sits with a shaved head and a garland, beside an orange-robed sadhu with bare shoulders and sacred ash markings. Strings of red fairy lights hang in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Hindu ritual in progress before a large decorated shrine. Several women sit in a row on red and purple cloth, wearing red and orange saris with flower garlands and holding pink lotus flowers and marigold blossoms; a rudraksha-style mala is visible on the woman at left. Behind them stand large deity murtis, including a pink-faced Ganesha with a red garland and a goddess murti with long dark hair and red garlands, decorated with white lace-like arches, umbrellas and string lights. Brass oil lamps with lit wicks stand among flowers and offerings. In the foreground at right, a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and upper cloth sits facing the shrine, holding a ritual item. Other white-clad attendants are visible in the background at right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual at night before a tall altar of deity murti, including a large goddess figure seated on a lion and a figure of Ganesha with a garland. Five young women in red, orange and saffron saris sit cross-legged on a raised platform holding pink and orange flowers. In the foreground a bald priest with bare upper body raises one arm toward a fire pit and brass oil lamps, while flower petals and offerings lie on the platform. Strings of lights and a canopy decorate the background, and two white-clad men stand on the right near the altar.2010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16A photograph of a nighttime Chandi Homa ritual before a decorated altar with several deity murtis, including a Ganesha figure in pink with a red garland and a goddess murti draped in white and red flowers and garlands, with a lion figure below. Around six young women sit cross-legged on a mat in red, orange and gold saris, holding pink and yellow flowers and wearing rudraksha malas. In the foreground a shaven-headed priest with his back to the camera tends a fire pit with smoke rising. Brass oil lamps, kalasha vessels, marigold and rose petals, and string lights in the background complete the scene, with a few standing attendants in white at the right edge.2010-10-16 +1 copies