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Night-time ritual photograph at an outdoor ashram puja space lit by oil lamps. A man in the centre wears a cream-coloured turban and white dhoti and shawl, with a multi-strand necklace of beads and gold, standing with palms pressed together in prayer before a carved wooden throne-like seat with a round carved backrest. Around him, several shaven-headed men in white dhotis and beaded necklaces stand or kneel with hands folded; one holds a silver bowl. Brass plates with flowers and offerings sit on white cloth at the front, and a purple cloth covers a table at right. A garland of green leaves hangs overhead, with a decorated pillar and circular wooden hoops above. Children in white and yellow clothing sit at left, and a row of seated devotees in white fills the background.

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October 16 20102010-10-16Night outdoor ritual at a homa-style altar. A man in white dhoti and shawl with a tan-yellow turban stands barefoot at the centre, hands pressed together in namaskar. Beside him, a bald priest in white with a gold-bead mala holds a silver bowl, and another priest in white with a mala stands with palms joined at right. A seated priest in white with a mala sits at the carved wooden peetha-style seat on the right. Behind them, a large group of seated children and adults in white clothes, some in orange and yellow shawls, watch. Brass plates with offerings sit on a white-draped table. Strings of green leaves and a tall painted pillar with circular rings form the backdrop.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight 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 copiesNight outdoor ritual on a raised platform beneath a strand of green mango leaves and hanging brass rings. A man in a white dhoti and shawl, with a saffron-coloured turban, rudraksha-style beaded garland and gold-toned arm bands, stands with palms pressed together in namaste. Beside him a bare-chested priest in a white cloth holds a brass bowl, and another priest in white with a beaded mala stands at right with hands folded. A large carved wooden peetha stands on the platform with brass plates, a kalasha-like vessel and offering items in front. Seated and standing children and adults in white and yellow clothes fill the foreground, with some wearing orange and red garments.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16A night homa ritual at an outdoor ashram setting with a visible fire pit in the foreground. A man in a white dhoti and white shawl with a saffron-coloured turban stands with hands folded in namaskar beside the flames, wearing a rudraksha-style bead necklace. Behind him, a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with an orange bead necklace holds a brass bowl. Another priest in white stands at right with folded hands, and a seated priest beside a carved wooden peetha holds offerings. Seated children and adults in white and orange clothing sit on the ground in front of the fire, some with brass plates. A green mango-leaf garland hangs overhead between two painted pillars, with a large orange ring structure above. Brass oil lamps and flower arrangements sit on a purple cloth at lower right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor ritual photograph at a homa or yagna site. A man in plain white dhoti and a cream turban stands at centre with palms pressed together in namaskar, a row of beaded ornaments on his chest. To his right, a bald man in white dhoti and layered beaded necklaces holds a metal bowl. Further right, another man in white with a beaded necklace presses his palms together. Behind them a leafy garland of mango leaves hangs across a rope, with two painted pillars and circular wooden hoops above. In the foreground stand a wooden circular carved seat, brass vessels, a kalasha-like bowl and small offering dishes on white cloth. About twenty seated children and adults in white and yellow clothes sit on a white cloth, many with palms together, forming a ritual gathering.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight-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.2010-10-16October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight 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 ritual outdoors under a canopy of green leaves strung between wooden posts with a large circular ring. In the centre, a man in a plain white dhoti stands with palms pressed together in namaskar beside a large carved wooden peetha or throne-like altar. To his left, another man in white holds a silver tray with a red cloth bundle. A bare-chested priest in white sits at the altar's right, and another priest in white with a gold-bead mala holds a small bell and spoon over brass vessels and offerings of flowers and fruit. Standing figures in white and a seated crowd of children and adults in white and orange gather in the background. Tall cloth-wrapped pillars decorated with bird motifs flank the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copies