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Night outdoor homa at an ashram. A standing man in white dhoti and shawl with a white turban and a long rudraksha-style garland holds a lit lamp over the fire pit, a small fire of hot embers in a stone-lined square pit. Behind him a man in white holds a bowl; other white-clad priests stand with hands in anjali. Seated devotees in white, some in yellow vests, sit on a white cloth at left. A decorated wooden yagna pillar and banana-leaf toran hang overhead. At lower right, a brass lamp and a silver tray with fruit and flowers sit on a purple cloth. Smoke rises into the dark night air.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open courtyard. A square brick fire pit with a lit flame sits on a white-cloth platform strewn with flower petals. A man in a white dhoti with a yellow-orange head wrap stands at the pit pouring an offering, while a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti with red borders and a gold-bead garland holds a brass plate. Another attendant in white with a garland stands at right beside a carved wooden stand, and ceremonial lamps and brass vessels sit at the front. Seated devotees in white and colourful clothing watch from the left under a leafy garland-decorated canopy, with a large red flower garland visible at lower right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a homa at an outdoor fire pit in an ashram courtyard. A square stone fire pit with a bright yellow-orange blaze sits on a tiered white base strewn with marigold and red flower petals. Three men in white dhotis and white shawls stand around it: a woman in a white sari with a yellow-orange head wrap and gold jewellery leans over the pit pouring from a vessel; a bald man in white with a gold necklace and red-and-white cloth holds a brass tray of red flowers; a third man with gold necklaces tends the flame. A large carved wooden drum-shaped vessel stands beside the pit. Seated devotees and children watch from the left, and a woman in white stands at right. A kalasha-style brass lamp and a red-and-white flower garland lie at the edge, with a leafy garland hung overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copiesA 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 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 copiesNight outdoor homa ceremony at an ashram. Smoke rises from a square fire pit lined with stone, where a seated priest in white bare-chested with a rudraksha-style necklace tends the fire. Several white-clad priests stand behind holding silver plates and offerings, one wearing a white turban and gold necklace, another with a shaved head and gold chain. A round wooden carved stand and brass oil lamps with flames sit on a purple cloth beside marigold garlands, fruit and sweets on plates. Seated devotees in white and orange watch from the left, and a woman in a white and yellow sari stands at the right. Banana leaf strings and a decorated pillar with a bird emblem hang overhead.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesNight fire ritual at an outdoor homa or yagna pit, lit by the flames. A man in white dhoti and a cream turban holds a burning camphor flame aloft with a lamp-like vessel, and wears a long rudraksha-style mala with a gold necklace. Beside him a bald assistant in white holds a silver bowl, and another man in white sits behind a copper-coloured peetha or throne-like backrest with hands folded. Marigold petals are scattered on stone steps around the fire pit, and a seated figure in the foreground shows only the back of his head and shoulders. Other men in white stand with palms joined in namaskar, and seated children and adults watch from the left. Festoons of leaves and a decorated pillar hang overhead.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa at a fire pit lined with stone steps and scattered marigold petals. A man in a cream turban and white dhoti with a sash, wearing gold and beaded necklaces, stands with palms pressed together in namaskar over the fire. Beside him a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti holds a silver vessel, another priest in white stands with hands folded, and a seated group in white and yellow watches on the left. A large carved stone disc rests beside the pit, with a kalasha-like vessel and brass bowls nearby.2010-10-16Night photograph of a homa fire ritual outdoors. A sunken rectangular fire pit with bright flames sits in the foreground, with marigold petals scattered on its stone rim. A priest in a saffron turban and white dhoti stands at left, pouring from a brass vessel. A second priest in white with a gold-bead necklace stands centre, holding a ladle over the fire. Behind him a seated man in white with a gold necklace holds a lamp. Two men in white dhotis stand at right with hands folded in namaskar, and another stands at back left. A large carved wooden drum-shaped object sits near the fire. Strings of green leaves and a painted pillar with floral motifs hang overhead, with brass rings above. Other white-clad men and children sit at the far left.2010-10-16