Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night photo of a Chandi Homa at an open-air ashram courtyard lit by warm lamps and strings of coloured lights. Ritual participants in white dhotis and bare upper bodies sit on the ground around a brick fire pit (homa kunda) with burning offerings. A standing priest in white holds a brass tray aloft beside a seated figure in orange-marked dress. Behind them, a large decorated deity murti with a lion and multiple arms, garlanded with flowers, is set on a white ornate throne-like arch, flanked by smaller figures, a sitar-like instrument, brass oil lamps (lamps), fruit and flower offerings. Red and orange cloth, and a tall decorated pillar, frame the scene.

More like this

Open the gallery
October 16 20102010-10-16A night-time outdoor puja under a temporary pavilion decorated with orange and multicolored pennants, hanging tassels and strings of lights. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha-style beads, holds a lit lamp before a decorated deity murti area with tall white floral arches, a lion mount and goddess figures garlanded in marigolds. Several seated men in white dhotis and bare shoulders sit on mats around a brick homa/yagna pit with brass vessels, lamps, flower offerings and plates of food. A red cushioned seat and orange cloth sit at the right. No clearly visible face of a person candidate is identifiable from the described cues, so the figure is described only by role.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight 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.2010-10-16 +1 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 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15Night ritual homa at an outdoor pavilion with a square fire pit at the centre, flames and smoke rising. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a lit flame or ritual lamp aloft. Around the pit, several shaven-headed men in white dhotis sit on mats with brass plates of offerings, flowers and fruit. Behind them stands an elaborate deity tableau with large murtis, including a lion-mounted goddess with multiple arms, and white ornate decorations. Strings of fairy lights, orange and multicolour festoons and a fringed canopy frame the scene. Red and orange cloth lies on the ground near brass lamps.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 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 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 copiesA night-time ritual at an outdoor shrine decorated with fairy lights and colourful pennants. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a lit flame or aarti lamp toward a large deity murti adorned with white flower garlands, a lion mount and a crowned goddess figure with multiple arms. Seated devotees in white dhotis, some with rudraksha malas, surround a square fire pit with smoke rising, and brass plates of offerings, fruit and red flowers are arranged on the ground. A red and orange sofa-like seat with orange cloth stands at the right edge. a person is not visibly identifiable among the people present, so no candidate is named.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight 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 copiesA night-time photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual at an outdoor pandal. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha beads, stands at left holding a plate aloft. Several seated participants in white dhotis sit on the floor with hands folded or holding offering plates, one wearing a yellow lower cloth. Behind them a large image of a goddess with multiple arms, holding weapons, stands in a decorated shrine alongside a lion and other murtis, with brass lamps lit in front. Strings of red fairy lights decorate the background. No figure in the scene can be identified as a person from appearance.2010-10-16 +1 copies