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Night photograph of an outdoor homa ritual on a raised stone platform decorated with flower petals. A central figure in white dhoti with red border and a gold necklace sits cross-legged with hands covering his face. Around him, several shaven-headed priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies, some wearing gold chains and rudraksha malas, sit or stand; in the foreground two priests sit with their backs to the camera. A tall palm frond stands beside the platform, a large ring hangs overhead, and a painted cylindrical banner with red and blue patterns stands to the left. Strings of red lights glow in the background.

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A night-time outdoor ritual photograph at an ashram. A shaved-headed man in white dhoti and shawl with a gold necklace sits cross-legged on a mat in front of a dark raised platform decorated with flower petals and tall palm fronds, covering his face with both hands. Around him, several men in white dhotis with gold necklaces and rudraksha malas sit or stand, some with brass plates and vessels before them. A tall cloth-wrapped stick and a hoop hang in the background, with strings of red lights and a lamp at the right edge. Nearby stands a brass lamp and an offering plate. Visible people: about six, including partially visible figures in the foreground.2010-10-16Night outdoor ritual photo. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold bead necklace sits cross-legged on a raised white platform behind a low wooden altar, pouring or handling items. Around him, several men in white dhotis sit on the ground, some bare-shouldered, one wearing a red and gold shawl in the foreground. Palm fronds stand beside the altar, flowers are scattered on the platform, and a bronze vessel rests on a tray. Hanging circular frames and a painted cloth banner decorate the background, with red string lights glowing at right.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual photograph at an ashram-style courtyard lit by string lights. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold necklace sits with hands folded at his chest on a low wooden seat, eyes closed. Around him, several men in white dhotis and bare-shouldered shawls sit or kneel beside a low white platform decorated with flower petals and a bronze lamp. A standing man in white attends at back-left, and a figure in orange-brown cloth with gold necklace sits at right near a brass kalasha-style vessel and lamp. Banana-leaf or palm fronds stand upright beside the platform, and a hanging red-and-white patterned cloth decoration stands at left. Two heads in the foreground show shaved scalps with a single topknot. Appearance does not clearly establish any single presiding figure as a person, so this is a puja or homa-type ritual scene.2010-10-16Night-time ritual photograph at an outdoor ceremony. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha-style beads and a gold necklace, sits cross-legged on a raised platform with hands folded over his chest. Behind and beside him, other priests in white garments sit or stand near brass vessels, a tray and a lit oil lamp. In the foreground, two seated men in white cloth face the platform, one holding a brass plate, and an orange-and-red cloth bundle appears at the right edge. A tall green palm-leaf stalk stands beside the platform, a decorated pillar and string lights glow in the background, and flower petals are scattered on the white dais.2010-10-16Night photo of a homa ritual at an outdoor pavilion lit by string lights. Several shaved-headed priests in white dhotis and white upper cloths sit on the floor around a low white fire platform strewn with petals, with a brass vessel and small bowls in front. A central priest in an orange-brown shawl and gold necklace leads the ritual. A tall palm-leaf stalk stands on the platform, and a lit oil lamp and brass lamps sit at the right beside a garlanded deity murti draped in red. A few standing figures in white are visible in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time puja at an outdoor pavilion lit by a string of red fairy lights. A seated priest in white ritual dress with a gold necklace and a shaved head, hands folded in prayer, sits on a low raised platform before a brass oil lamp with a lit flame. Several other men in white dhotis and gold chains sit around the platform, some with their backs to the camera. On the right a deity murti is decorated with garlands of white and red flowers, with a brass kalasha-style vessel, flower petals on the platform, and a palm frond upright beside it. The scene suggests a homa or puja ceremony.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a homa fire ritual in an outdoor courtyard. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border and a gold bead necklace holds a lit lamp over a square black fire pit edged with white and scattered flowers. Another priest in white with gold beads sits cross-legged beside a brass bell and offerings. A man in white with a yellow shawl photographs the scene with a camera, and bright red and yellow lights decorate a building behind. Brass lamps, a carved wooden seat and fruit trays surround the ritual area, with devotees seated in front.2010-10-16Night homa ritual at an open pavilion decorated with mango-leaf garlands and hanging cloth banners. A central man in white dhoti and a pale cream turban stands with palms pressed together in namaskar beside a square fire pit glowing with coals. A bald priest in white with a gold necklace holds a silver bowl. A carved wooden seat with a rosette design stands nearby, and devotees in white sit at left with brass plates and flower petals scattered on the white cloth. The pit is ringed by brass vessels and petals. Several other white-clad figures stand and kneel around the scene.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16A night-time homa or yagna at a brick fire pit (kunda) with a palm-leaf screen behind it. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and a white shawl with red border, wearing a gold-beaded mala, sits cross-legged at the pit, eyes lowered. Other priests in white dhotis with gold malas sit around the fire, and women in yellow-bordered saris sit behind them. A brass vessel of offerings and a small brass lamp rest on the altar. Men with vertical sacred marks on their foreheads stand at the right edge.2010-10-15