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A night ritual photograph at an outdoor homa or yagna site. A priest in white dhoti and a pale peach turban holds up a lit camphor flame on a brass aarti lamp, with smoke rising around him. Beside him, another priest in white bends over a fire pit with a large round wooden drum-like object and brass vessels. A third man in white with a rudraksha mala stands at right. A row of mango leaves is strung across the top. Seated devotees in white, some in yellow and orange, sit on white cloth at left, including several children. Brass plates, bells and offerings sit on the mat.

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Night 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 ritual outdoors with a smoky atmosphere. A priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a pale turban and a rudraksha-style bead mala, raises a lit flame in a brass aarti lamp, while a second priest bends over a brass plate and offerings beside a large carved wooden drum-like object. Another white-clad man in a bead mala stands at right with a bell-like hand gesture. Strings of green leaves hang overhead, and a group of seated men and boys in white, with some yellow and orange shawls, watch from the left. Smoke drifts through the scene.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor fire ritual. A young man in white dhoti and shawl, with a tan head-wrap and orange-beaded necklaces, stands holding a lit oil lamp in one hand and a small bell in the other. Beside him a bald man in white dhoti with red border holds a silver vessel and wears a rudraksha mala. Seated and standing devotees in white, a few in orange and yellow, sit on white cloth at left with brass plates and offerings. A wooden carved disc and hanging leaf garland frame the scene, with smoke rising in the dark background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa at an outdoor ritual space lit by lamps, with a raised square fire pit of white-tiled steps where a bright flame burns and flower petals lie scattered. In the foreground, a bare-shouldered priest in white dhoti with a gold necklace faces the fire from behind. Standing near the pit, a woman in white sari with a yellow-orange head wrap and beaded necklaces raises her hand over the fire, while a man in white robes kneels beside a carved wooden stool. Behind them, a row of seated devotees in white and orange clothing fills the mat-covered ground, with garlanded green leaf torans overhead and a decorated seat with red and green fabric and brass lamps on the right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual at a fire altar. A priest in a white dhoti and white shawl, with a white turban and beaded necklaces, holds a lit flame aloft toward a fire burning in a stone-lined pit decorated with red and yellow flowers. Behind him, two more priests in white stand near a large round bronze vessel and a kalasha-style pot. Several men in white clothing stand in the background, and a brass lamp and bell rest on the altar. Ring-shaped structures and palm-leaf decorations frame the scene. This appears to be a homa fire ceremony.2010-10-16Night outdoor homa at an ashram. A square stone fire pit with a large blazing flame sits in the foreground, with petals scattered around it and a brass lamp and offering trays on a purple cloth at the right. A man in white ritual dress with a white head wrap and garlands holds up a burning vessel above the fire. Beside him a priest in white dhoti and shawl with a garland stands with hands folded, and another white-clad man stands at right. A woman in a white sari on the left side of the fire pit faces the flames. Seated devotees in white and orange-toned clothing fill the background, and hanging yellow leaf garlands and round hanging lanterns frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA rotated night photograph of a fire ritual. Several priests in white dhoti and shawl clothing stand in a row, several wearing gold necklaces and bead malas. The foreground priest holds a bright flaming vessel in both hands, and a large brass lamp or pot with flames rises from a brick fire pit at left. Behind them, a row of devotees in white and yellow clothing stands in the dim background beneath hanging green leaves and marigold garlands. A large round brass plate or drum sits in the lower left foreground, and a wrapped cloth banner hangs near the right side. This appears to be an evening homa or fire puja with offerings being made in a fire pit.2010-10-16A night-time homa at an open-air fire pit lined with brick and stone steps. A central figure in a white dhoti and white shawl, with a white turban, holds a burning ceremonial torch above the fire and smiles. Beside him, a bald man in a white cloth wears a beaded mala and holds a small offering. To the right, a younger priest in white with a gold-toned mala holds a brass plate of offerings. Another white-clad devotee stands with palms joined at the far right, and a seated audience in white and orange clothes watches from the left. Behind the fire, a copper-toned disc and yellow-and-white hanging ornaments decorate the space, with leafy garlands strung overhead. Brass oil lamps, plates of fruit and flowers and a red cloth sit on the table at the right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa at an ashram. A central fire pit with a blazing flame sits in front, with marigold petals scattered on its stone edges. A woman in white drapery with a tan head wrap and gold arm bands and necklaces pours from a silver vessel while holding a yellow-tinted ceremonial item over the fire. Behind her a man in white dhoti with gold malas stands holding a silver pot. Another man kneels at the far side tending a lamp, and a figure in white with folded hands stands at right. Men in white robes and a few seated boys watch at left. A carved wooden drum-like object and a hanging orange lantern and leaf festoons frame the scene.2010-10-16Night 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 copies