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Nithyanandapedia
July 04 2013

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A night homa fire burns in a raised stone fire pit at a devotional gathering. Marigold and red flower offerings surround the pit's edges, with brass plates of flowers and a small oil lamp on a stand nearby. On the right, a man in a white dhoti and shawl with a striped wrap sits cross-legged, holding a small ladle over the fire, while a woman in an orange headband and striped white sari sits beside him. Behind them, a seated audience in white and pink clothing fills the rows, many with hands joined in prayer. Striped mats cover the stone platform.2013-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04A fire ritual in progress: a large tiered brick altar with red, pink and green painted patterns and scattered rose petals holds a blazing fire with smoke rising. Two priests sit close to the fire; one in the centre wears a green cloth on his head and green waist cloth, and a rudraksha-style mala, pouring from a brass vessel. The second priest on the right is bare-chested with white dhoti, beaded necklace and white markings on his body. Behind them a seated crowd in white clothes with orange-red shawls and lanyards fills the hall. Brass bowls, flower garlands, fruit and an oil lamp lie on the floor to the right, indicating a homa or yagna.2016-07-04Night-time Ganapati homa at an outdoor ashram setting. A golden-yellow square fire pit holds a flaming fire, with smoke rising. Several priests sit around it in saffron/orange robes and white dhotis, with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings; the priest at right wears a red and gold turban and white garment with gold border and offers something into the fire. Silver and brass vessels, a small pot with yellow flowers, and bowls of grain sit at the edges. Behind them a seated audience in white and red-sashed clothing fills the background, with a microphone stand visible at left. A partial garland hangs in the background.2014-10-11July 06 20152015-07-06July 19 20132013-07-19July 19 20132013-07-19A photograph of a Rudra Homa fire ritual outdoors on green mats. A large fire burns on a stepped altar of yellow-painted bricks decorated with red flower petals. Two priests in white dhotis sit bare-chested at the fire; the front priest wears a yellow turban, a golden garland and a green-and-white sacred thread, and holds a ladle over the offerings. Behind them a seated crowd in white clothes and red-orange shawls watches; several participants fold their hands in prayer. To the right stands a decorated shrine with a golden figure and offering plates, and metal vessels of grains and fruit sit in the foreground.2016-07-02A homa fire burns in a rectangular stone fire pit decorated with white painted borders and scattered red rose petals. Orange and yellow marigold garlands and red rose garlands frame the foreground, with small brass plates of offerings and a kalasha-like pot nearby. Behind the fire, a row of seated women and girls wear white with red shawls, with a few in pink and white, sitting attentively on striped mats. At the upper right, a bare-chested man with a sacred thread and white dhoti sits near a microphone and metal vessels; his appearance does not clearly establish an identity, so he is described only by role as a priest and no a person candidate is asserted.2013-07-17August 29 20142014-08-29A night homa at an open-air ritual site: a large fire blazes in a stone fire pit surrounded by brass bowls, trays of flowers, fruit and coconut offerings. Seated in the foreground, a priest in a white dhoti and a shawl over his shoulders sits beside a bearded officiant wearing orange clothing, red and orange garlands and a rudraksha mala, who holds a ritual vessel. Behind them, rows of seated devotees in white and saffron-coloured clothes fill the courtyard. On the left, a golden throne with a red cushion holds a framed portrait of a figure in orange clothing and red garlands; the portrait is a depiction and no appearance-based identification is made. Marigold garlands decorate the foreground.2016-04-03