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Night outdoor ritual at a Chandi Homa. A standing priest with a bare upper body and white dhoti holds a lit oil lamp or flame near a brick fire pit in front of him, while several seated priests in white clothes and beaded necklaces chant around the pit. Behind them a large decorated deity murti of the goddess with multiple arms, lion mount and ornate white backdrop is adorned with red and white garlands, and a Ganesha figure stands nearby. Oil lamps, fruit offerings, flower petals and brass vessels sit on the ground. Strings of multicolour lights and tall decorated poles frame the scene.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night ritual homa at a temple pavilion. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti stands at left holding a flaming ladle over a square fire pit of blazing wood. Around the fire, about a dozen seated men in white dhotis and cloths, some wearing gold-bead necklaces, sit on mats with brass plates of offerings, fruits and flowers. To the right, large ornate deity murtis in white and silver decorations, including a figure with a crown and weapons, stand beside brass lamps and strings of fairy lights. Hanging banners and painted pillars frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15Night outdoor ritual at a decorated pandal with string lights. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at centre-left holding a lit lamp (aarti) toward a large deity murti of a goddess with a red garland, many arms and weapons, beside a lion or tiger mount. Seated devotees in white clothes and beaded necklaces surround a square fire pit (homa/yagna) with brass vessels, fruit, flower petals and offerings. A pink Ganesha figure and additional decorated murtis stand nearby, with a brass lamp stand at right. Chandi Homa is the album name; the fire pit and aarti are visible.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight-time outdoor puja at a shrine decorated with a Durga-style deity murti, its golden crown and garlanded figure with multiple arms and a lion beside it. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a lit flame aloft toward the deities. Around the raised platform, several seated men in white dhotis and shawls, some with beaded neckwear, sit with brass plates of fruit, flowers and offerings. Oil lamps burn on brass stands, and string lights and paper bunting hang in the background. A bearded seated man in white and a shaved-headed priest in white are visible among the group. Silver-decorated arches frame the murti. The scene reads as an aarti during a Chandi Homa-style worship.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open courtyard decorated with string lights and a kalasha-style canopy. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl raises a flaming torch or lamp above a square fire pit where a bright fire burns. Several seated priests in white clothing, some with rudraksha malas and ceremonial gold necklaces, sit around the fire pit with brass plates of flowers and offerings. Behind them is an elaborately decorated altar with large murtis of deities, including a figure with a sword and a multi-armed goddess figure, flanked by brass oil lamps and fruit offerings. Colourful festival banners hang from poles at the left and top.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15Night ritual at a Chandi Homa outdoors under a canopy, with a fire pit blazing in the foreground. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti stands at center holding up a lit aarti lamp toward the fire. Around the homa, about ten seated men in white dhotis and garlands, some with rudraksha malas, sit on mats with brass plates of offerings, fruit and flowers. To the right, a richly decorated deity murti of the goddess stands with a lion mount, surrounded by white floral decorations, lamps and fruit. Strings of coloured lights and hanging festoons decorate the canopy and posts. Smoke rises in the dark air.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa ceremony beside a lit fire pit. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left, extending a lit lamp or torch toward the flames, with rudraksha-style beads at his neck. Seated priests in white clothes, some wearing beaded necklaces, sit around the square fire altar holding brass vessels and offerings. Behind them is a decorated deity murti of a goddess with a lion mount and a ganesha figure, adorned with garlands, flower petals and brass oil lamps. Strings of fairy lights and colourful festoon banners decorate the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ceremony at an outdoor homa pit, with a fire glowing in a rectangular sunken fire pit lined with flower petals. A priest in white dhoti and shawl raises a lit lamp or torch high on the left. Around the pit, several seated ritual participants in white cloth and some in yellow dhotis hold offering plates of flowers, grains and red items. Behind them stands a decorated shrine with a large white-and-silver figure of a goddess, a lion mount, a deity murti with a garland, and bright string lights and a canopy. Brass oil lamps and banana-leaf decorations frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15