Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A night-time ritual under a open-sided pavilion with a striped canopy and hanging decorations. On the left, large deity murtis with garlands and an ornate arch stand behind a long wooden altar draped in a purple cloth. A priest in white dhoti with red-bordered cloth and bare chest holds a burning lamp toward offerings, while a woman in a maroon sari and red blouse sits at the altar. Brass lamps, fruits, vegetables, plates and flowers cover the altar, and a golden throne-like seat stands at the back. Seated devotees fill the foreground and right side, and strings of lights glow in the background.

More like this

Open the gallery
October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual at an ashram pavilion with a large decorated deity murti and clay figures on the left, including a red-clad goddess with a garland. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, bare-chested, holds a lit flame aloft toward the altar while a woman in a dark red and brown sari sits at the foreground offering table. Brass lamps, fruits, plates of offerings and a ceremonial throne with red cushion are arranged on an orange-draped platform. Hanging colourful pennants and string lights decorate the canopy, and a seated crowd of devotees watches from the right. A throne-like seat is visible but no clear appearance-based candidate is identifiable, so a person is unsure.2010-10-16 +1 copiesEvening outdoor ritual under a corrugated roof at night. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a maroon border stands at right, holding a lamp or incense toward the altar. Seated along a long orange-draped table, several young women in red and maroon saris and sitting in a row handle offerings and flower petals. Behind them sit more devotees. On the left stand large decorated murtis of a goddess and an elephant-headed deity with a white floral backdrop and a lion mount, flanked by a decorative parasol. Bowls of fruit, sweets, brass plates and coconuts fill the table. Strings of triangular flags and hanging bunting decorate the canopy, and red and white lights glow in the background. A bearded man in white sits at far right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photo of an outdoor ritual pavilion with a raised orange platform edged in red and white. A man with a shaved head, wearing a white dhoti with red border and a white shawl, stands at right holding a lit oil lamp or fire over offerings on a plate. A woman in a maroon sari sits cross-legged on the platform beside a bowl of fruit and a green vegetable. Behind them a large dark ceremonial pot and a red-cushioned throne stand near the center, with figures in white seated nearby. To the left, a colourful clay murti of a multi-armed goddess with a red and orange garment, a lion and other figures is decorated with garlands, alongside banana leaves, fruit, brass lamps and a watermelon. Dozens of seated devotees fill the lower right foreground. Strings of flags and foliage hang from the roof.2010-10-16Night-time ritual scene under a open-sided pavilion decorated with hanging colourful tassels, mango-leaf strings and circular ornaments. On the left stand large painted clay deity murtis, including a pink elephant-headed Ganesha and goddess figures in red and white garments. A seated woman in a maroon sari with a braid sits before an orange-topped altar holding fruit, plates and a flower-decorated platform. A standing man on the right, bare-chested with a white dhoti and white shawl edged in maroon, holds a lit aarti lamp toward the altar, with a small flame visible. Brass lamps, banana fruit, watermelon and offerings are arranged on white and purple cloths. A seated crowd of devotees fills the background.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16A nighttime Chandi Homa ritual under a open-sided canopy strung with orange triangular flags and multicolored hanging tassels. On the left, a large clay deity murti of the goddess with multiple arms and a red-and-white ornate backdrop, flanked by a lion-like figure and fruit offerings including watermelon and bananas on a red cloth. In the foreground, several young women in maroon and red sarees sit cross-legged on a orange cloth-covered platform, one holding a flower. A bald man in white dhoti and shawl stands at right, lifting a ritual implement above a wooden homa altar with smoke rising. Behind them, a seated figure in orange robes sits on a white throne-like seat beside a few other seated people, with an audience of several dozen devotees in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time ritual on an open-sided pavilion under a corrugated roof, decorated with paper bunting, mango-leaf garlands and hanging tassels. On the left, a large white-and-pink ganesha-style and goddess murti stands beneath an ornate white canopy with flower garlands. A row of young women in red and maroon saris sit cross-legged on a raised orange platform, several with hands together. At the right, a man in white dhoti and shawl with a bare upper body stands bending over the platform, tending brass plates of fruit, offerings and a flame. Behind them a gilded throne with a red cushion and seated devotees in white are visible, and string lights glow in the background.2010-10-16Night-time outdoor ritual under a corrugated roof decorated with triangular bunting, hanging tassels and lit strings. On the left, a large white-and-pink ornamented deity murti with a garland stands beside a lion vahana. In the foreground, several women in red and maroon saris sit on a mat behind a spread of fruit, flowers and offerings including watermelon and pineapple. At the centre, a shaved-headed man in white dhoti and shawl stands at a wooden stand facing the seated women. Further back, a figure in orange sits on a red-cushioned throne-like seat, and a crowd of seated devotees watches the proceedings.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time homa ceremony under a tin-roofed pavilion with smoke rising in the air. On the left, a decorated deity murti of Goddess Durga with a crown and red-and-gold clothing sits beside a Ganesha figure, flower garlands and fruit offerings. In the centre, a priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at a fire pit, holding a ritual vessel, while a row of women in red and maroon saris sit on the orange cloth before offerings of fruit, coconuts and brass plates. Behind, a golden-armed throne is occupied by a robed figure, with other seated attendees near it. Bunting and hanging tassels decorate the ceiling, and a large crowd of devotees sits on the right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesEvening outdoor puja under a covered pavilion decorated with hanging tassels and leaf garlands. On the left, large colourful deity murtis and a pink elephant-headed figure stand on a dressed table with fruit offerings, brass lamps and a green-leaf platter. A woman in a maroon-and-gold sari sits on an orange-and-white stepped platform, holding fruit and flowers. Facing her, a man in white dhoti and shawl with a red border holds a lit lamp or flame over a tray of offerings. Behind them, a red-and-gold throne and a crowd of seated devotees fill the background, with a lamp-lit dais and a camera visible at the lower right.2010-10-16