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Night-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.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night photograph of a homa fire ritual at an open pavilion decorated with hanging leaf garlands and a painted cloth banner. A man in white dhoti and shawl with a beige turban stands with palms pressed together in namaskar beside a fire pit with a dark stone slab, marigold petals scattered on the steps. Beside him a bald priest in white with gold beads and a red-bordered cloth holds a silver bowl. Other white-clad priests stand or sit with folded hands, and a carved wooden ceremonial seat stands near the fire. A seated man in the foreground has his back to the camera. Small children in white sit at the left edge. a person is not identifiable from appearance here, so the turbaned man is described by role only.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night homa ritual at an open pavilion decorated with mango-leaf garlands and hanging cloth banners. A central man in white dhoti and a pale cream turban stands with palms pressed together in namaskar beside a square fire pit glowing with coals. A bald priest in white with a gold necklace holds a silver bowl. A carved wooden seat with a rosette design stands nearby, and devotees in white sit at left with brass plates and flower petals scattered on the white cloth. The pit is ringed by brass vessels and petals. Several other white-clad figures stand and kneel around the scene.2010-10-16Night-time homa at an open-air ritual space with a fire pit in the foreground, its flames lit and marigold petals scattered around its edge. A bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a tan turban and a gold-bead garland stands with palms pressed together in namaste near the fire. Beside him, a shaved-headed man in white with a red-bordered dhoti and gold beads holds a silver bowl. Behind them, more men in white dhotis and gold necklaces stand or sit with hands folded, and a few children sit at the left. A carved wooden seat with a circular lotus-like motif stands at right, and banana-leaf garlands and painted cloth panels hang overhead. Two cloth-wrapped rounds of white fabric lie on the floor. A man in white sits at the bottom right, back to the camera.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa at a fire pit lined with stone, with flower petals scattered on the stone edges. A central figure in white draped clothing, with a swept-up blonde-tinted turban-style head covering, gold necklaces and a gold armband, stands with palms pressed together, head bowed over the fire. Two attendants in white dhotis and gold beads stand behind, one holding a silver vessel, and a bare-headed man in white kneels at the front edge. A carved stone disc stands beside the pit, with a kalasha-style decorated pillar and leaf garlands strung above and a large ring structure overhead. Several seated devotees in white watch from the left.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16Night photograph of a homa fire ceremony at a pit with a bright flame and brass vessels on a white cloth. A central man in white dhoti and shawl with a tan turban and gold bead necklace stands with palms pressed together in prayer. Beside him, a man in white with a red-bordered dhoti and gold beads holds a silver vessel. Other priests in white stand and kneel with folded hands, and seated boys in white watch. Decorated hanging cloth and leaf garlands frame the scene, with a carved wooden disc behind the fire. In the foreground a bald man in white with a gold necklace faces the fire. Six or more people are visible.2010-10-16Night outdoor fire ritual. A central figure in a white dhoti and white shawl, wrapped in a cream-yellow turban and wearing gold-bead necklaces, stands with hands pressed together in prayer. Beside him a shaven-headed priest in white holds a silver vessel, and other white-clad men stand with folded hands. Seated devotees in white sit at left. Behind them hang mango-leaf strings, a round brass ring, a colourful painted pillar and a carved wooden disc. Four standing men are visible, with several seated people at left.2010-10-16Night 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.2010-10-16