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Night photograph of a homa ritual in an outdoor ashram pavilion. A man in white dhoti and white shawl with a saffron-and-cream turban sits on an ornate red-and-gold throne, wearing a saffron-orange beaded mala and gold bracelet. Opposite him, a bald priest in white with red border cloth kneels at a square fire pit lined with white cloth and scattered marigold petals, holding a ladle over the pit. Brass oil lamps burn in the foreground, and women in red and white saris sit in rows behind the pit, some holding brass plates of red offerings. Colourful woven banners hang on the poles, a painted backdrop of a deity is behind the crowd, and a garland of green leaves runs across the top.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night ritual under a decorated pavilion with hanging bunting, leaf garlands and a large golden-outlined ring motif on the back wall. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with red borders stands at right, raising one hand while a woman in a red sari holds a silver vessel. Center left, a man in white with a turban sits on a red-and-gold throne-like seat, another man with a shaved head and white garments sits beside a fire-pit altar strewn with flowers. A seated figure in orange robes sits on a stone seat behind. Brass lamps and fruit offerings stand at left, with several women and girls in red and green saris seated in front. Crowd in the background.2010-10-16Night outdoor homa ceremony with smoke rising from a white stepped fire pit lined with marigold petals and offerings. A man in white ceremonial clothes, wearing a saffron-coloured turban and a gold-beaded necklace, sits smiling on an ornate red and gold throne. Beside the pit a priest in saffron-orange garments kneels tending the fire. Other figures in white and orange stand behind, and a woman in a white sari stands at left. Brass lamps, kalasha pots, fruit, flower garlands and a bundle of green cloth sit on a foreground table. Above, banana-leaf festoons hang between tall decorated pillars and a large ring, and a backdrop with printed text is visible at right.2010-10-16Night-time homa ceremony in an open outdoor pavilion. A man in a white dhoti and shawl with a turban and gold-coloured necklaces sits on an ornate red and gold throne, hands folded in a gesture of respect. Beside him, an older bearded man with white-painted forehead and body markings, wearing a rust-brown cloth, sits with hands joined. At the centre a seated man in white clothing and beads leans over a square fire pit lined with white steps, with marigold petals scattered around it, brass vessels and a flame glowing inside. Girls in red and maroon dresses with gold jewellery sit at the lower left, and a man in white dhoti stands with hands folded at the right edge. Painted pillars with bird motifs frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual stage with a central man seated on an ornate red velvet throne with gold trim, wearing a white one-shoulder cloth, a light-coloured turban and a gold bead necklace, hands folded in his lap. Beside him, a shaven-headed priest in white dhoti with gold beads sits before a microphone. A square white-draped fire pit with flower petals and brass vessels lies in front, with a tall brass oil lamp lit at left and a pink garlanded object nearby. Mango-leaf garlands and painted cylindrical banners hang behind. Several women and children in saris sit on the right near trays of red offerings.2010-10-16Night outdoor ceremony under a decorated canopy strung with mango leaves and a floral garland. A man in an ornate gold-and-red throne is seated centrally, wearing a cream turban, white dhoti-style cloth, and multiple beaded necklaces; he is smiling. Before him, a shaved-headed man in white with a red-bordered cloth kneels at a stone yajna pit or homa platform strewn with flower petals and brass vessels, holding offerings. To the right, an older bearded man with white hair, bare chest, body markings and beaded necklaces sits with hands folded in namaste, and a shaved-headed attendant in white stands at the edge. A man in saffron clothes stands near the throne holding a ceremonial item, and young girls in red and maroon traditional dress with flowers in their hair sit at left. Painted decorative pillars and a red flag frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual photo. A man in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a cream turban and a gold-beaded necklace, sits barefoot on an ornate red and gold throne. To the left, a shaved-headed priest in white with a gold necklace sits behind a microphone holding a book. In front, a square homa fire pit with white-painted edges, flower petals, a brass oil lamp with burning flame, a silver kalasha pot and a conch shell. Several seated women in red and saffron saris and children watch on the right, with silver trays of red offerings. Hanging yellow and green decorated pillars, marigold garlands and leaf festoons frame the stage. Both men are shown in ritual dress; a portrait labelled Paramahamsa Nithyananda could not be read.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa at an ashram. A fire burns in a square fire pit lined with white cloth and scattered yellow and orange flowers, with brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, a silver bowl and a ladle at its edge. Seated on a red and gold throne, a man in white dhoti and shawl, a white turban and multiple beaded necklaces watches the fire; the appearance-based cues are a turban and ornate necklaces, so he is a probable Swamiji candidate, seated in a position of honour beside an elderly man in an orange-brown robe in a cushioned chair. A standing man in orange robes stands behind, and a seated man in white with a green and red-bordered cloth lays out puja items in the foreground. A large seated audience of women and girls in white, red and saffron saris fills the background under hanging banana-leaf decorations.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor homa ceremony at a white-tiled fire pit with a square raised hearth filled with dark ash and flower petals. A man in white dhoti and a saffron-and-white turban, wearing gold neck ornaments, sits on an ornate red-and-gold throne behind the pit, facing the crowd. Two priests in white robes with red borders sit at the pit; one speaks into a microphone, another in white sits near the front. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, a red flower garland and offerings surround the hearth. Decorative hanging cloth and mango-leaf strands are strung overhead, and a large audience of mostly white-clad and orange-clad devotees fills the right side of the frame.2010-10-16Night-time outdoor homa ceremony under a open canopy strung with green leaf garlands and hanging colourful cloth banners. A person in a white robe and white head covering sits on an ornate red and gold throne at the upper left, with a microphone-style setup nearby. In the centre, a square fire pit lined with white stone is surrounded by two priests in white dhoti with bare upper bodies and rudraksha-style neck garlands, seated on mats and performing offerings. Brass lamps, silver vessels, brass plates of grains and flowers, and a red cloth-wrapped bundle sit on the orange cloth. Several rows of seated devotees in orange, red and white clothing fill the middle and background, with a tall decorated structure at the right.2010-10-16