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Night-time homa at a temple courtyard before a large decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms holding weapons, with a figure of Ganesha and smaller images nearby. A priest in white dhoti and white upper cloth with a turban stands at a fire pit holding a lamp, while other priests in white with rudraksha-style necklaces stand with hands folded behind him. A man in white kneels in the foreground beside the fire pit. Brass oil lamps, fruit, sweets and offerings are arranged on orange cloth, and string lights and hanging festival decorations frame the scene.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night 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 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 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 copiesNight photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual under an open pavilion decorated with hanging tassels and bunting. In the foreground a bare-backed man in white dhoti with a beaded necklace kneels facing a fire pit with flames and a row of offerings. Standing priests in white cloth hold a lamp and kalasha-like vessels in front of an altar. Beside the fire, a large murti of a goddess with many arms, a red-and-white garment and a lion mount is decorated with garlands, with a smaller figure of a lion and an elephant-headed deity nearby. Brass oil lamps, fruit offerings and a red cloth-covered table fill the foreground, and strings of lights glow in the background. A few seated devotees in white are visible at the left edge.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night-time outdoor puja at a shrine decorated with a Durga-style deity murti, its golden crown and garlanded figure with multiple arms and a lion beside it. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl holds a lit flame aloft toward the deities. Around the raised platform, several seated men in white dhotis and shawls, some with beaded neckwear, sit with brass plates of fruit, flowers and offerings. Oil lamps burn on brass stands, and string lights and paper bunting hang in the background. A bearded seated man in white and a shaved-headed priest in white are visible among the group. Silver-decorated arches frame the murti. The scene reads as an aarti during a Chandi Homa-style worship.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a fire ritual under a covered open-air pavilion decorated with red and orange triangular bunting and hanging red tassels. In the foreground a bare-shouldered priest in a white dhoti kneels before a square fire pit with a flame and offerings, with a brass lamp and plates of fruit and flowers set out. On the right, a large deity murti with many arms holding weapons stands in ornate silver and red decorations, beside a lion figure and smaller figures and a lit string-light tower. Several white-clad priests stand in the background, one holding a lit flame on a brass vessel, while a standing man in an orange turban and white clothes raises a burning lamp.2010-10-16A night-time photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open courtyard decorated with string lights and a kalasha-style canopy. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl raises a flaming torch or lamp above a square fire pit where a bright fire burns. Several seated priests in white clothing, some with rudraksha malas and ceremonial gold necklaces, sit around the fire pit with brass plates of flowers and offerings. Behind them is an elaborately decorated altar with large murtis of deities, including a figure with a sword and a multi-armed goddess figure, flanked by brass oil lamps and fruit offerings. Colourful festival banners hang from poles at the left and top.2010-10-16 +1 copies