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A bald priest with a white vertical tilak on his forehead sits cross-legged on a white floor before a black stone fire pit, placing offerings into the flames. He wears a white dhoti with a red border and a gold necklace. Behind him stand a pink-faced Ganesha murti in golden drapery with a red garland and a female deity murti in white and pink, beside brass oil lamps, a silver thali of food, and a small bowl of rice. To the right a golden deity with a garlanded flower arrangement is visible. Colourful string lights hang in the background. This is a homa ritual at the fire pit.

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A shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti and white upper cloth with red-bordered edges sits cross-legged on a cushion beside a fire pit lined with pale stone. He wears a long gold-bead necklace and a gold bangle, with white and red tilak marks on his forehead, and holds a brass spoon over a metal bowl of offerings while looking down. Behind him stand a pink and gold Ganesha murti garlanded with red flowers and a female deity murti in white and pink, beside brass oil lamps, a kalasha and string lights. On the right, a dark stone deity murti with a gold crown is decorated with white and yellow flower garlands. The scene suggests a homa or puja in progress.2010-10-13A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged on a mat before a homa fire pit, extending his right hand over the offering area. He wears a gold necklace and a gold bangle, with a tilak on his forehead. Behind him stand brightly decorated deity murtis, including a pink and gold Ganesha with a red garland and a female figure in green and gold. A brass oil lamp and brass bowls with offerings sit on the altar, and a small deity murti in white and orange flower garlands sits at right. Fairy lights line the backdrop, and a lion figure appears at the far right.2010-10-13A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a gold-beaded necklace and tilak, kneels on a mat before a fire pit and feeds offerings into it with a wooden ladle. Behind him stand ornate clay deity murtis, including an elephant-headed deity with a pink face and orange-gold garment and a garland, and a figure in white and gold. A row of brass oil lamps stands by the fire pit, with a bowl of grains and sweets at his left. At right, a small deity figure in white and gold is decorated with white flowers and orange-red garlands. Strings of coloured lights hang behind the scene, and a lion-form figure appears at upper right.2010-10-13A seated priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a gold-beaded necklace and a shaved head with a white tilak, performs a homa at a fire pit in front of colorful deity murtis. Behind him a pink-and-gold Ganesha figure with a red garland stands beside a white-decorated goddess murti, and a lion figure is visible at the upper right. Brass oil lamps (deepa) and silver bowls holding offerings sit on the altar, and a small deity murti decorated with white and yellow flower garlands sits at right. Strings of colored lights hang in the background. No physical person matches the a person appearance cues.2010-10-13A homa being performed at a brick fire pit with an open flame. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold-bordered cloth sits on a mat, holding a silver bowl of offerings over the fire. To the left, another seated priest in white with a rudraksha-style beaded necklace watches. Behind them, several deity murtis are decorated with garlands and draped in pink, blue and orange cloth, with brass kalasha pots and flower petals on the altar platforms. Partially visible people appear at the left edge.2010-12-26A shaved-headed man in white ritual dhoti and shawl with red border sits cross-legged before a fire pit, hands pressed together in namaskar with eyes closed. He wears a long gold-and-beaded necklace and bangles, and has a tilak on his forehead. Before him are a brass bowl with a ladle, plates of offerings including bananas, and a brass oil lamp. Behind him stand a pink Ganesha murti with red garland and a goddess murti in green and gold, beside a small gold deity figure garlanded with white and orange flowers under strings of colourful lights. The scene suggests an evening homa.2010-10-13A photograph of a shaven-headed priest in white ritual dhoti and shawl, with a gold necklace, seated on a mat at a fire pit (homa kunda) performing an offering with a ladle and bowl. Behind him stand large colourful statues of Ganesha in pink and gold and a goddess figure, with a golden oil lamp and offering plates of flowers, grains and fruit in the foreground. A lit string of multicoloured lights hangs in the background. The priest appears to be the only physical person visible.2010-10-13A seated priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border, bare-shouldered, with gold chain and white tripundra on forehead, holds a brass tray of burning offerings with a flame during a homa. Behind him stand large colourful deity murtis including an elephant-headed figure and a multi-armed goddess with a lion, and an oil lamp stands on a brass stand. To the right, a decorated deity murti sits draped in pink and white flower garlands and silver ornaments on a red cloth. A brass vessel and flowers rest on a stone platform in front of the priest.2010-10-12A photograph of a homa ritual in a temple hall. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged before a yellow-brick fire pit with offerings, hands folded in prayer, with a microphone on a stand before him. Beside him sits a man in saffron-orange robes and a garland, hands resting on his lap. Behind them are three decorated shrines with deity murtis garlanded in red, yellow and white flowers, and a bowl of flower petals and turmeric sits on a plate in front. Brass lamps and a kalasha are in the frame.2011-11-29 +1 copiesOctober 15 20102010-10-15A night homa at an ashram altar. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and cream upper cloth with red border pours an oblation from a metal vessel into a large flaming fire pit, the flames leaping high. Two young boys in white sit cross-legged behind the fire, holding small red offerings. Brass bowls, a kalasha-like vessel and oil lamps sit on the altar. Behind them, a decorated deity murti is garlanded with white flowers and a red floral garland, with string lights in red and green glowing in the background. Several white-clad devotees stand watching at the left.2010-10-16Two priests in white ritual dhotis with golden borders sit before a homa fire pit built of brick, with flames rising from the lit pit. The priest in the foreground, bare-chested with a gold-bordered cloth and a rudraksha mala, holds a silver tray or ladle over the fire. Behind them, a seated priest with a shaved head wears a white cloth and mala and watches quietly. Behind the altar stand three deity murtis dressed in ornate clothing and draped in white jasmine and red flower garlands, with brass kalashas and decorated offering pots holding green leaves in front. A tray of ritual items and banana-leaf offerings lies at the lower left, and a pink cloth covers part of the altar.2010-12-26