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A night-time outdoor ritual under a canopy strung with orange and multicoloured tassel banners and green leaf garlands. In the foreground a priest in white dhoti and shawl leans over a stepped white fire pit (homa kunda) filled with a glowing orange surface, while another white-clad priest in the centre holds a brass plate. Other white-clad priests stand behind, and a row of seated devotees in orange and white clothing watches at left. At right a decorated altar holds a deity murti draped in white and red garlands, with a lion mount, brass oil lamps (deepa), fruit and sweet offerings on plates, and a bright string of lights behind. Motion blur marks a moving figure at lower left.

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October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time outdoor homa at a Chandi Homa. A raised white stone fire pit with a large open flame sits in the foreground, surrounded by marigold petals, with a brass lamp and a round bronze plate nearby. Three men in white ritual dhotis stand behind the fire: the one on the left holds a flaming torch and wears a white head covering with bead necklaces, another stands in a white dhoti with a bare upper body, and a third in a white shawl stands beside them. A woman in white sits with hands folded at the lower left. Behind them, additional people in white stand and sit. To the right stands a large deity murti of a goddess with a lion mount, adorned with garlands, a crown and a decorated backdrop; brass oil lamps and trays of fruit and offerings are arranged on purple and gold cloths. Strings of lights, saffron pennants and banana leaf decorations hang overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual at a homa fire pit beside a large decorated deity murti. Three priests in white dhotis and shawls stand and kneel around a square white-tiled fire pit with red flower petals and brass vessels. The central figure, a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, is adorned with garlands and a silver and white halo-style backdrop, flanked by a lion mount and other smaller murtis. Brass oil lamps and kalasha-style vessels sit on purple and red cloths, under fairy lights and a decorated ceiling with hanging banners. A shaven-headed priest kneels at the front in the foreground. Two figures stand at left with hands folded in prayer. No one in the scene is identifiable as a person by the visible cues.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa at an outdoor ritual pavilion. A fire pit with burning flames sits on a white flower-strewn platform in the foreground. Priests in white dhotis and shawls stand and sit around it: one standing man on the left in a white dhoti with a beaded necklace holds a silver tray, and another in a white dhoti and white turban stands with palms joined. A seated priest in the foreground right tends the fire area with a brass vessel. On the right, a decorated deity murti of a goddess with a lion mount, multiple arms and a garland of flowers is set up beside brass oil lamps, fruit offerings, and a red-and-green cloth. Fairy lights and hanging ornamental banners frame the scene. Several other figures in white stand in the background.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight photo of a Chandi Homa at an outdoor pavilion. A priest in a white turban and orange-gold beaded necklace holds a flaming torch beside a tiered white stone fire altar where a large fire burns. Other priests in white dhotis and shawls stand with hands folded in prayer, and seated devotees in white fill the left foreground. On the right, a richly decorated deity murti with a lion mount, garlands and a silver crown is surrounded by brass oil lamps, kalasha-like offerings, fruit and sweets on brass plates. Strings of flags and lights hang overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of an outdoor homa fire ceremony under a canopy strung with green leaves, orange flags and decorative hanging tassels. A square stone fire pit with flames stands in the centre, surrounded by petals. A priest in white dhoti and an orange turban pours offerings near the fire, while a man in white with a rudraksha-style garland holds a tray. Another priest in white kneels on a mat at left with hands folded over a brass plate. To the right a table holds brass oil lamps, fruit, sweets and offering plates; a decorated elephant-headed deity murti with a garland and a second murti stand beside it, lit by colourful string lights. Seated devotees in white and orange fill the left side of the audience area.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual under a open-sided canopy strung with garlands, paper triangles and lights. A fire pit with a lit flame sits on a white-draped platform; in the foreground a bald priest in white dhoti sits and tends the fire. Standing behind him, a man in a white dhoti with a red-edged cloth and a rudraksha-style necklace holds a silver tray, while another standing figure in a white dhoti and yellow turban stands with palms joined. A large decorated deity murti with a lion mount, a female goddess form with raised arms and a silver-and-white arched backdrop is on the right, with brass oil lamps and offerings arranged around the platform. Several seated children in white are at the left edge.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual under a pavilion hung with red and white triangular bunting and red tassels. At left, a priest in white dhoti and shawl raises a flaming lamp over a fire pit as seated men in white clothes watch from the left edge. Standing priests in white with folded hands and a bare-shouldered figure in white stand behind. To the right, an altar holds fruit, brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel and a large deity murti with a yellow-orange crown and garlands, beside a clay image of an elephant-headed deity; string lights glow in the background. A chandi homa fire ritual with aarti is taking place.2010-10-16Night outdoor homa ceremony before a large tiered deity murti installation. In the foreground a fire pit with a bright flame sits on white steps, and a bare-torsoed priest in white dhoti kneels before it. Behind, a standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a flaming ritual lamp aloft while another stands nearby with a plate. Several devotees in white clothes stand with hands folded at the side. On the right, colourful deity murtis with garlands and ornate white decorations occupy an altar, with brass oil lamps, fruit, plates of offerings and an orange cloth in front. Strings of lights and triangular bunting decorate the background. No figure in the scene is clearly identifiable as a person.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual under a open-sided canopy decorated with green leaf garlands, orange pennants and hanging colourful tassels. At the centre a square fire pit blazes beside a large round clay vessel, with a priest in white dhoti and turban raising a flaming lamp. Beside him stand several priests in white dhotis and shawls with palms joined, and a figure kneels at the front of the pit. Seated devotees in orange and white clothes fill the left foreground. On the right, a decorated table holds fruit, sweets and brass lamps before a large ganesha murti with a lit lighting frame behind it.2010-10-16 +1 copies