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Nithyanandapedia
December 24 2015

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A large crowd sits and stands on a sandy beach at dusk, facing a homa fire pit built from red bricks in the foreground. Two priests in white dhotis with green and red shawls kneel at the fire, one holding a brass oil lamp and the other offering from a brass vessel. A bare-chested man in a white dhoti stands to the right beside a white circular platform holding yellow flower petals and red bricks. Bundles of sticks, plastic crates, jars and a sack of material lie at the bottom left. A white-robed figure stands among the crowd in the middle distance.2015-12-24December 25 20152015-12-25Outdoor beach ritual on sand. Two priests in white dhotis with green and red-bordered cloth sit cross-legged beside a white round platform holding a brass kalasha with mango leaves and a coconut, two brass lamps with lit flames, a red plate, a fruit and small brass vessels. A shirtless priest seated at the platform's far side pours or offers from a vessel. A square fire pit of red bricks in the foreground holds ash and offering items. Behind them a large seated audience in white, red and orange clothing sits on sand, with a standing attendant in white at the right edge. Ritual is homa-style fire worship in a beach satsang setting.2015-12-24Four priests sit on green mats on a sandy beach around a brick fire pit where a bright flame burns, with bundles of wood stacked to one side and a copper vessel and brass lamps nearby. A decorated altar draped in teal cloth holds fruit and floral offerings behind the fire. Two priests on the left wear white dhotis, purple-and-gold shawls and garlands; one wears a purple turban and stirs a ladle. Two on the right wear white dhotis with purple shawls and garlands. Behind them a large crowd of devotees in white, orange and red clothing sits and stands on the sand under a pale sky, which suggests a homa or yagna held outdoors.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25May 20 20142014-05-20December 25 20152015-12-25January 13 20152015-01-13A photograph of a Vedic fire ritual at an outdoor homa pit lined with yellow-orange bricks and flower petals. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a green and gold border, a gold-patterned turban and a rudraksha mala kneels at the fire and feeds offerings from a metal spoon into the flames. A brass bowl sits beside him. Behind them, seated devotees in white clothes with red shawls and saffron-orange forehead markings watch the ritual.2016-07-02Night-time outdoor fire ritual on a riverside ghat. A large crowd of devotees in orange and saffron robes sits cross-legged on green mats in rows, many with hands pressed in prayer. In the centre, a man in a saffron-red garment with a bare upper body and gold-patterned cloth stands facing the fire. At right, two shaven-headed priests in orange robes sit behind a draped red-orange platform holding ritual items and floral garlands. Bright floodlights illuminate the scene from above while standing onlookers line the far embankment.2014-05-20Night-time outdoor ritual on a sandy beach. In the foreground a priest with a bare upper body, white dhoti with a red-bordered cloth, a green shawl over one shoulder, a blue-and-white head wrap and white sacred ash markings on his chest holds a small silver plate and a tray, with a bright red flower garland. A second priest in a white dhoti stands behind him holding a silver plate of offerings. Small brass lamps, a brass kalasha-style vessel, a green cloth, flower petals and fruit sit on round low platforms on the sand. A brick fire pit with burning flames is at left. Behind them a seated audience of many women and some men, many wearing red and orange garlands, sits on the sand watching.2015-12-24