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Night photograph of a homa fire ritual. A large blazing fire burns in a stepped white stone fire pit decorated with red and yellow flower petals. Several men in white dhotis sit around the pit; one at right, with shaved head and gold necklaces, presses his palms together in prayer. A standing priest in a white dhoti and sacred thread stands at the back. Brass plates hold offerings, a brass kalasha-style pot, oil lamps burn on the right beside a tray of fruit and flowers, and a decorated altar with red and green draperies is visible. Several people are seen from behind in the foreground.

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October 16 20102010-10-16A night homa at a fire pit lined with flower petals. A flame rises from the central square pit, with a standing priest in white dhoti and shawl at the top of the frame and several seated priests in white around the pit. One seated priest in the right foreground has a gold necklace and folded hands. A seated priest at centre right, with hands joined in prayer, wears white, with a rudraksha-style necklace and a shaved head. Brass vessels, a brass lamp and fruit offerings sit on the left and right. Behind the pit, a brass lamp burns beside a deity murti decorated with red flower garlands and a golden kalasha-like vessel with fruit. Strings of lights glow in the background. No clearly distinctive a person cues are visible in the frame, so the candidate is unsure.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a homa fire ritual in a temple courtyard. A large square fire pit lined with brick and white stone blazes with tall orange flames, decorated with scattered red and yellow flower petals. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at the back holding a ritual object over the fire. To the right, a man with a shaved head, wearing white clothes and gold-coloured beaded necklaces, sits with palms pressed together in prayer. Several other people in white ritual clothing sit around the fire pit, and brass vessels, a bowl of offerings, fruit and flower garlands lie nearby. Brass oil lamps glow, and a ganesha murti stands at right beside a dais of fruit. Multiple people are visible, not a single figure.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night homa in progress at a ceremonial fire pit. A tall flame rises from a square stone fire pit with flower petals scattered on its edges. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a long stalk above the fire. Seated around the pit, several men in white ritual clothes and gold beaded necklaces sit cross-legged; one at right has palms pressed together in prayer. Brass bowls and plates of offerings sit at the front, and a table at right holds fruit, marigold garlands, brass oil lamps and a small deity murti decorated with red flowers. Strings of lights and a pink-painted figure appear in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA photograph of a night homa fire ritual. A large bright fire burns in a square brick and stone fire pit decorated with scattered flower petals. A standing priest in white dhoti and a red-bordered cloth stands behind the pit, holding a long bundle of reeds upright. Several seated priests in white clothing surround the pit; one on the right has hands folded in prayer, and a seated man on the left wears a white shawl and garland. Brass vessels, plates and a lit oil lamp sit at the edge, along with fruit, flower garlands and a decorated Ganesha murti in the background, with strings of lights above.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time photograph of a homa being performed at a square brick fire pit with a bright flame. Several priests sit around it in white dhoti and shawls, many wearing gold-toned beaded necklaces. One priest in the centre-right bends forward to pour offerings into the fire, while others hold brass plates of grains, herbs and chopped vegetables. Marigold and red flower petals are scattered on the stone platform. To the right stand brass lamps, a kalasha, red and white floral garlands, bowls of kumkum and a large decorated deity murti behind colourful drapery.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15A night-time homa at a square fire pit lined with white and marble-like edging and scattered flower petals. Several priests in white dhotis and shawls sit around the pit. One priest in the background stands wearing a white dhoti, and a bare-headed seated priest on the right holds his hands in anjali with gold necklaces. Devotees in white cloth sit in the foreground, one holding a brass plate of offerings and another with a brass vessel. To the right is a decorated altar with red and white flower garlands, fruit, brass oil lamps with lit flames, and a deity murti. Brass plates of yellow and red flowers rest on the ground.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa fire ritual in an open courtyard. A large square brick fire pit with stepped stone edges blazes at centre, flames rising high. A priest in white dhoti and a white head wrap, with a gold necklace, stands at the pit feeding it with a long ladle. Beside him a man in white dhoti with a beaded mala holds a brass plate of offerings. Another attendant in white stands further back, and seated devotees in white fill the left background. In the foreground lower left, a bald person in white sits facing the fire. Scattered flower petals line the stone platform, with brass oil lamps and a garlanded brass vessel at lower right. A round carved wooden shield-like panel stands behind the pit, and yellow-green leaf garlands hang overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa ceremony in an open courtyard. A square brick fire pit with a lit flame sits in the centre, surrounded by flower petals. Around it sit several bare-chested priests in white dhotis and gold-bead garlands, one holding a ladle and offerings. On the right, a bald priest in white with a gold necklace tends brass oil lamps and a plate of offerings near a red-draped seat. Bowls of grains, fruit and dried items lie in front. Two standing figures and seated men are visible in the background. The scene shows a fire ritual with lamps, offerings and a tended fire pit.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open courtyard. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a beaded necklace and gold bracelet, holds a lit oil lamp over a square fire pit burning with bright flames. Several seated priests in white clothes and beaded necklaces surround the pit; some have shaved heads and some hold their palms together. Bundles of tall dried sticks rise beside the fire, with brass plates, bowls and offerings of fruit, flowers and marigold garlands nearby. Strings of coloured lights hang behind, with a decorated pillar and a red-and-white painted wall at the back.2010-10-16