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Night-time photograph of a ritual hall under a canopy hung with red, yellow and green pennant flags, tassel decorations and a large gold-outlined om symbol. In the foreground, a woman in a maroon blouse and patterned sari sits near offering plates of red fruit, and a second woman with long dark hair leans forward. At right, a young shaven-headed man in a white dhoti with red-bordered shawl stands with folded hands. Center background, a figure in a red garment with a crown-like headpiece sits on a gold-trimmed seat beside a tiered white altar-platform with brass vessels, while a figure in orange robes stands with hands joined. Brass lamps, marigolds, a fire-pit area with rising smoke, and seated devotees fill the scene.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Nighttime homa ceremony under a open pavilion decorated with saffron-orange and white cloth banners, strings of leaves, and large circular ornaments. A standing priest on the right, with a shaved head, wears a white dhoti and shawl with red borders and a gold necklace, raising one hand in a blessing gesture while holding a small object. Beside him, a seated woman in a maroon blouse and red-and-maroon sari holds a green fruit and a pink item near a platter of fruit and flower petals. Behind them, a fire offering area with a raised altar, a kalasha-like vessel, and brass oil lamps on the left. Several white-clad priests and seated devotees in white and red attire fill the background. A large ornate gold-and-red throne chair is visible, with a robed figure seated in front of it. The scene shows fruits, brass lamps, and scattered flower petals on an orange cloth. Several people are visible, including partially seen figures in the background.2010-10-16Night photograph of a homa ceremony under a canopy strung with leaf garlands and a large golden om symbol. In the centre a seated figure in white robes, a white head cloth and rudraksha-style beads sits on a gold-and-red throne, a white ritual cloth draped over the lap. Beside the throne a priest in saffron-red robes with a sacred ash-marked face and bare upper body holds a vessel, while another priest in white stands at the right. A white altar platform in front holds flowers, brass vessels and a fire pit, with brass oil lamps and a wooden drum at left. A woman in a red sari in the foreground watches, and a row of seated devotees in white clothes sits at right.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night-time homa ceremony under a leaf-strung canopy hung with a large gold-outlined OM symbol and triangular saffron and orange pennants. A seated figure in white ritual clothes and a white head cloth sits on an ornate gold-framed red throne behind a white stepped altar, with a fire pit and flower-strewn offerings. Beside him an elder with long grey hair and a tall ascetic headdress, wearing a rust-red cloth, holds a ritual vessel, while a bare-chested attendant with a sacred thread stands at left. A woman in a red blouse and saffron sari sits in the foreground with brass lamps, fruit and marigold garlands nearby, and devotees in white sit in the background.2010-10-16Night ritual photograph at an outdoor homa or puja. In the centre a man in white clothes with a white turban and beaded necklaces sits on a red and gold ornate throne, hands raised in a mudra. Beside him an elderly sadhu with a long white beard, bare-chested, wearing a rust-orange dhoti and orange shawl, holds a ritual object in his hand. Ornate white and red fire-platform steps hold flowers, petals, brass vessels and offerings in front of the throne. Brass oil lamps stand at left, a young woman in a red blouse and saree sits in the foreground, and devotees in white sit at right. Strings of leaves and orange cloth hang overhead, with a large round OM symbol above.2010-10-16Night photograph of a homa or yagna at an outdoor ritual space. Smoke rises from a fire pit at top centre under strings of leaves and small triangular pennants. On the left, a row of decorated deity murtis stands lit by strings of red fairy lights. A brass oil lamp stands in the foreground beside trays of fruit (bananas, mangoes, apples, oranges) and heaps of kumkum and turmeric. Seated in the foreground, a girl in a red sari with a long braid faces the altar. A priest in white ritual dress with red-bordered cloth stands at the altar, while another priest in white kneels at the right, and a red and gold throne stands empty behind the altar. Devotees in white and red sit in the background.2010-10-16Night-time ritual on an open-sided pavilion with orange cloth and bunting. In the foreground a woman in a maroon blouse and dark red sari with a patterned border kneels at a low platform, holding a green fruit. Beside her, a bald man in white dhoti and shawl with red-striped borders raises one hand in a blessing gesture and holds a small object. The platform bears fruit, flower petals, brass vessels and plates of offerings. Behind them, brass oil lamps stand on tall stands, and figures in white sit around a central seat draped in red and gold. A large round wooden drum-like vessel and crowds of seated devotees, mostly in white and red, fill the background under strings of lights and hanging tassels.2010-10-16Night-time ritual photograph under an open pavilion decorated with mango-leaf strings, red and yellow triangular pennants and hanging ornamental tassels. On the left, a large decorated deity murti with a crown and multiple arms stands beside brass lamps and offerings of watermelon, bananas, green fruit, vegetables and a tray of red flowers. A woman in a maroon blouse and red-and-brown sari sits on the orange floor holding a green fruit, while a second woman in a deep red sari sits behind her. At right, a young man with a shaved head wears a white dhoti and shawl with red borders and holds ritual items in both hands, standing near a wooden drum and steel plates. Behind them, seated devotees fill the rows in the background.2010-10-16Night ritual on a raised wooden platform under a canopy of leaves. A bearded man in orange robes with a white-and-orange turban sits on a white throne-like seat with hands pressed together, while a woman in a white sari and gold necklace stands behind him beside a man in orange holding a plate. Seated at the front, several women in red and orange saris face the platform. At right, two men in white dhotis with red borders perform offerings: one has folded hands and another holds a plate of flowers. Before them lie a brass kalasha, bells, small metal vessels, a plate of apples and marigold petals, and a wooden drum with a cloth draped over it. A red throne with gold trim stands at upper left.2010-10-16Night photograph of a ritual at a temple setting decorated with hanging strands of lights and mango-leaf garlands. In the foreground a young girl in a red sari with gold border sits cross-legged before a table of fruit, bananas, flowers and kumkum and turmeric bowls. Behind her a man in white dhoti and white shawl with red borders stands bent over a wooden drum-shaped stool, while a second man in white with a yellow dhoti kneels and tends the offering. A plain ornate red-and-gold throne sits empty in the background beside brass lamps, and a row of attendants in white stands near a figure of a deity murti with a crown and multiple arms. Smoke rises from the sacred fire area and a crowd is seen at the right edge.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual under a canopy strung with leaf garlands and small triangular flags. At centre, a fire pit with flames stands before an ornate red and gold throne-like seat. A standing priest in white dhoti and white shawl with red border holds an item over the fire. A seated priest with shaved head wears a gold necklace and white clothing at right, beside a bowl of yellow powder. Several children in red and maroon dresses sit in front on a purple cloth, with fruit (limes, bananas, coconuts), brass oil lamps and kumkum-coloured offerings on trays. Decorated deity figures with floral garlands stand at left under string lights. This appears to be a homa-style fire ritual with puja offerings.2010-10-16