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Nithyanandapedia
August 02 2017

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Night photograph of a ritual under a white tented pavilion with pink trim. A bare-chested priest in an orange and yellow shawl and white dhoti stands at a gold-coloured rectangular vessel or stone trough, sprinkling pink flower petals into it. Around him, several men in white dhotis and layered beaded necklaces stand with hands folded or holding offerings, one with a striped sash. Brass oil lamps, steel bowls, small pots and yellow marigold garlands sit on a multicoloured striped mat in the foreground. In the background, a seated figure in a red cushioned chair beneath an ornate gold canopy and fan is surrounded by saffron-robed devotees. Other people in orange robes stand nearby.2017-08-02December 15 20162016-12-15April 14 20182018-04-14A homa fire ritual inside a hall with a brick fire pit ringed by marigold and flower garlands, flames rising from logs on the bricks. A man bent forward over the fire pours or tends an offering with a ladle, wearing a red and gold shawl over bare shoulders and white dhoti with gold border. Standing behind him, bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders and rudraksha or flower malas hold ritual items; one holds a bundle of grass. On the left, a seated man with long hair and flower garlands sits near a decorated heart-shaped frame of flowers, with brass vessels and kalasha pots on the red floor. A purple and gold ornate umbrella stands overhead, and banana plants flank the scene.2018-04-14A tented hall decorated with hanging colourful tassels, paper lanterns and oil lamps shows a fire ritual in progress. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a striped border, wearing an orange cloth and a flower garland, leans over a wooden homa fire pit on a red carpet, lighting it with a flame while offerings of fruit, flowers and brass vessels surround the pit. Two men in white dhoti stand at left, one speaking into a microphone, others with hands folded. Behind them a large seated crowd, many men bare-chested in white, sits in rows. On the right a seated figure in saffron-orange robes wears a crown-like headdress, rudraksha-style beads and a white flower garland, seated on a gold-and-red throne. The scene reads as a homa with puja offerings.2016-12-05April 06 20172017-04-06Night-time ritual under a white tent with pink trim and bright floodlights. A yellow-gold fire altar with a burning flame sits in front, decorated with red petals. Behind it a seated figure on a red-cushioned throne is garlanded with white flowers and wears a beaded necklace; this figure is a deity murti or seated person, not clearly identifiable. Priests in white dhotis with colourful borders stand near the fire; one bare-chested man in white and one in orange-and-white cloth assist. Flower arrangements, a brass kalasha, and oil lamps lie on a striped mat in the foreground. Several people in orange and red clothing stand in the background, and a man in an orange shawl holding a flower garland stands at the right edge, indicating a homa or puja ceremony.2017-08-22Night-time ritual under a white tent with pink-trimmed edges and string lights. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in an orange-yellow cloth and a yellow head wrap pours liquid from a small silver cup into a wooden fire pit with flower petals scattered around its edges, while smoke rises. Beside him a man in white dhoti with blue and white border and gold chains stands watching, and a bowed assistant with a yellow head cloth is at the right edge. Behind them a seated figure in red-brown robes and gold necklaces sits on an ornate gold-and-red throne with a golden canopy, flanked by standing devotees in orange and red garments and a seated audience. Striped mats and a brass vessel are on the floor.2017-08-02Photograph of a ritual inside a canopied hall decorated with hanging colourful lanterns and fabric streamers. In the foreground, a shirtless priest in white dhoti with orange and yellow bordered cloth stands at a wooden homa or puja platform, while another priest in a yellow-bordered dhoti tends oil lamps and burning flames. A tray in front holds fruit, flowers and a leaf-plate of offerings. Behind them, seated devotees in white and a figure in red-and-gold dress sit before a golden throne-like seat with a sunburst backdrop. Floral garlands and ornate ritual objects are visible on the platform.2016-12-12Temple ritual in a dim hall. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and a green-and-gold sash holds a brass plate and gestures over an offering laid on a gold-framed seat, decorated with white and red flower garlands, lotus-like leaves and oil lamps. Beside him, a man in white dhoti with hands folded in prayer and a bare-chested man wearing a gold necklace stand close. A priest in a yellow head cloth and white dhoti stands at left. To the right, a fire pit of yellow bricks burns with flames, with brass vessels nearby. Several women in saffron and red saris and a seated group sit at the back, some with palms joined in prayer, while a red-and-patterned mat covers the floor.2017-04-06December 15 20162016-12-15Night ritual under a canopy with coloured streamers and hanging lamps. A man in white dhoti with an orange headband and rudraksha-style beaded necklace leans over a wooden platform, pouring liquid into a carved wooden box. Nearby, a bare-chested man in white dhoti and yellow-trimmed shawl stands beside a bell, and other men and women in white and yellow attire sit or stand around the altar. The platform holds bananas, fruit, flower garlands, a golden kalasha-like vessel draped in orange cloth, and small bowls. Behind, a decorated deity murti is visible at the right edge. A green banana plant and a brass lamp stand complete the scene.2016-12-05