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July 11 2014

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July 11 20142014-07-11Outdoor homa ritual at a fire pit built into a stone platform, with flames and smoke rising from offerings of grains and flowers. A priest in white dhoti with bare chest, gold-bordered cloth, and tilaka pours a liquid from a silver vessel into the fire while another priest in saffron-orange robes with a gold-bordered shawl and a light cloth stands nearby holding a small silver plate. Devotees in saffron and white kneel with palms joined in front of a red velvet armchair with gold trim. Behind them, a shrine with a deity murti sits under a golden arch, with palm trees, a red compound wall and a parked silver SUV. Small brass bowls of kumkum and flowers sit at the edge of the pit.2013-09-09A hazy indoor homa in progress at a brick fire pit lined with yellow bricks. A man in an orange shawl over white clothes sits cross-legged at left with hands folded, facing the fire. Beside him a seated figure in an orange robe holds a long ladle-like implement over the flames, with smoke rising. Brass plates of offerings, a kalasha-style vessel with flowers, and small bowls sit on the mat. At right, several people in white and orange sit with hands folded in prayer, and a woman at left edge also holds her hands together. A striped red-and-white wall and hanging bells frame the room.2008-03-22May 13 20132013-05-13September 09 20132013-09-09A homa fire ceremony in a hall with participants seated on colourful striped mats. In the centre a man in an orange-red turban and orange shawl, with long beads and rudraksha-style necklaces, tends a flame rising from a brick fire pit decorated with marigolds. Two men in white dhoti with red-orange shawls and beaded necklaces sit on either side, and a woman in a red-and-gold sari sits at right. Behind them, seated devotees wear white with red shawls. Brass bowls, fruit, and offerings surround the fire pit.2015-07-06A homa fire pit is set in an outdoor courtyard with a yellow-tinted offering dish and silver vessels in front. A shaven-headed man in saffron-orange robes, with a light shawl and beaded necklaces, sits cross-legged at the left with palms joined in prayer. Facing the fire pit, a row of women in white tops and red-orange shawls with orange lanyards sit with hands folded in namaskar, eyes closed. Coconuts wrapped in leaves and small clay cups with lamps rest on the pit's ledge.2013-03-26March 10 20132013-03-10A ritual scene outdoors beside a pillared stone courtyard. A bearded man with long dark hair, a red-ochre sannyasi wrap and a red-brown dhoti sits on a stone step and stirs pink powder in a large silver tray with a small metal implement, a tilak on his forehead. Beside him a woman in a teal and cream sari with a beaded rudraksha necklace kneels and watches. Behind them young men sit on steps, some bare-chested with white dhotis and sacred threads, one in an orange and white outfit. A crowd of standing devotees in saffron, orange and white clothing watches from the back, including several with rudraksha malas. A small wooden box holds offerings nearby. Pink powder suggests kumkum or vibhuti preparation.2016-11-11A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in an open courtyard. A standing priest in an orange shawl and orange dhoti holds a silver plate near a rectangular fire pit with burning flames. Seated devotees in orange and saffron clothing, some in white and pink saris, sit on mats with hands folded in prayer. Kalasha pots decorated with white flower garlands and mango leaves, plus fruit plates and oil lamps, sit at the front.2012-07-12A night homa at a square fire pit with flames and burning wood at the centre of the frame. A figure with long swept-back hair, wearing saffron clothing, ornate gold-and-beaded necklaces and rudraksha malas, sits cross-legged on a raised ornate silver seat and reads from a small book; the figure's appearance has several cues, so this is a probable Swamiji. Around the fire, shaved-headed priests in orange shawls and women in orange and red saris with gold borders sit in rows and hold ritual items; a row of women in saffron-orange saris stands behind with hands folded, under multicoloured string lights. Offerings and brass vessels line the fire pit's edge. Several dozen people are visible in the background.2013-03-10A night outdoor homa at a KAILASA ashram during a satsang. A central figure seated on a silver-backed wooden throne with gold legs wears saffron robes, a long rudraksha-style mala and gold necklaces, with long swept-back hair. Before a square fire pit with burning wood, seated disciples in orange and saffron robes with gold borders, many with shaved heads and malas, sit in rows and hold offerings; women in red-and-gold saris and malas sit nearby. A woman in an orange sari stands at the upper right, and string lights hang overhead. Brass vessels, a plate of offerings and sticks of wood lie around the fire pit.2013-03-10