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Night outdoor ritual homa beside a fire pit with flames at the lower edge. A priest in white dhoti with a red border and gold chain holds a silver tray with a red cloth at left. A young man in white dhoti, yellow-cream headwrap and gold beaded necklaces stands with palms pressed together. Behind them a carved wooden circular throne-like seat stands beside brass vessels and plates of flowers. Others in white and a few in saffron sit or stand, with children seated at left. Festival decorations include a leafy garland, colourful painted pillars and circular hoops overhead.

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October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor fire ritual at a homa site lit by a bright flame in a stone-lined pit in the foreground. A standing man in white dhoti and shawl with a beaded necklace holds a silver tray with a red cloth on it, while beside him a man in a cream turban and white dhoti with beaded necklaces stands with hands folded. A large carved wooden disc stands on the right, and a priest in white kneels near it. Several seated children and adults in white and orange garments sit on white cloth behind the fire. Strings of green leaves and a painted wooden pillar with blue and orange motifs decorate the scene, with brass plates and vessels around the fire.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time ritual photograph at an outdoor ashram puja space lit by oil lamps. A man in the centre wears a cream-coloured turban and white dhoti and shawl, with a multi-strand necklace of beads and gold, standing with palms pressed together in prayer before a carved wooden throne-like seat with a round carved backrest. Around him, several shaven-headed men in white dhotis and beaded necklaces stand or kneel with hands folded; one holds a silver bowl. Brass plates with flowers and offerings sit on white cloth at the front, and a purple cloth covers a table at right. A garland of green leaves hangs overhead, with a decorated pillar and circular wooden hoops above. Children in white and yellow clothing sit at left, and a row of seated devotees in white fills the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual at a homa or puja site. A man in plain white dhoti and shawl with a tan turban stands at centre with palms pressed together in namaskar. Beside him, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with striped maroon border holds a silver bowl. Another bare-chested priest in white with a rudraksha mala stands at right with palms folded, and a seated priest in white with a mala sits near a carved wooden peetha. Brass vessels and a plate sit on a cloth before them. Behind, rows of seated children and adults in white and yellow clothes watch. Mango-leaf garland hangs overhead, and two large ring-shaped wooden structures with a saffron cloth hang in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night homa ritual at an outdoor ashram setting with a visible fire pit in the foreground. A man in a white dhoti and white shawl with a saffron-coloured turban stands with hands folded in namaskar beside the flames, wearing a rudraksha-style bead necklace. Behind him, a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with an orange bead necklace holds a brass bowl. Another priest in white stands at right with folded hands, and a seated priest beside a carved wooden peetha holds offerings. Seated children and adults in white and orange clothing sit on the ground in front of the fire, some with brass plates. A green mango-leaf garland hangs overhead between two painted pillars, with a large orange ring structure above. Brass oil lamps and flower arrangements sit on a purple cloth at lower right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual at a homa-style altar. A man in white dhoti and shawl with a tan-yellow turban stands barefoot at the centre, hands pressed together in namaskar. Beside him, a bald priest in white with a gold-bead mala holds a silver bowl, and another priest in white with a mala stands with palms joined at right. A seated priest in white with a mala sits at the carved wooden peetha-style seat on the right. Behind them, a large group of seated children and adults in white clothes, some in orange and yellow shawls, watch. Brass plates with offerings sit on a white-draped table. Strings of green leaves and a tall painted pillar with circular rings form the backdrop.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a homa fire ritual at an open-air ceremonial area. In the foreground a fire pit burns beside a carved wooden or stone yoni-style base and brass plates. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a tan turban holds a flaming lamp and a bell, while a shaved-headed priest in white with a red-bordered cloth and rudraksha mala holds a brass bowl. Behind them, shaved-headed priests in white clothes stand with palms pressed together, and a row of young boys in white with red scarves sits on the left. Green leaf garlands and a decorated pillar with colourful patterns frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time homa ritual at an open-air fire pit with a dark stone-lined homa kund and small flames at its edge. A man in a white dhoti and shawl with a tan turban stands with palms pressed together in anjali, with gold necklaces. Beside him a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti with maroon border and gold necklaces holds a silver bowl. A carved wooden circular peetha with floral relief stands nearby. Behind, a row of seated devotees in white clothes, some with gold necklaces, watch and pray. Flower petals are scattered on the white steps. Orange and patterned cloth hangings and a leaf garland decorate the pavilion, and a wooden trident-like structure hangs above.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual on a raised platform beneath a strand of green mango leaves and hanging brass rings. A man in a white dhoti and shawl, with a saffron-coloured turban, rudraksha-style beaded garland and gold-toned arm bands, stands with palms pressed together in namaste. Beside him a bare-chested priest in a white cloth holds a brass bowl, and another priest in white with a beaded mala stands at right with hands folded. A large carved wooden peetha stands on the platform with brass plates, a kalasha-like vessel and offering items in front. Seated and standing children and adults in white and yellow clothes fill the foreground, with some wearing orange and red garments.2010-10-16 +1 copies