Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of an outdoor homa or fire ritual. A long-haired man in a cream and gold silk kurta sits on a wooden seat before a brick fire pit holding wood sticks, and he holds flower petals in his hand. A woman in white with a gold border kneels at left, offering a plate of fruit or offerings. Standing behind him, a man in a white kurta with a dark shawl and rudraksha-style mala raises a hand, and a man in a dark jacket holds a long pole for an umbrella. Above them, ornate orange and red embroidered umbrellas and a brass oil lamp stand, along with brass vessels and a kalasha, complete the ceremonial setting. Garlands in rainbow colours lie on a white-draped table at right. Several onlookers stand behind in winter clothes, some with headscarves. a person appears as the seated man, identified by long swept hair, a cream silk garment with gold border and a central role at the fire pit.

More like this

Open the gallery
Outdoor fire ritual (homa) at a brick fire pit with burning wood, flames and scattered flower petals, under a chilly forested setting with patches of snow. Around him, a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a tall decorated umbrella pole, a man in red shawl with gold border stands with hands folded, a woman in a blue hooded shawl stands at right, and a person in a dark headscarf sits at left beside a tray of offerings. Brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, brass plates, fruit, cinnamon-like sticks and a white-clothed table holding ritual items sit nearby, with colourful garlands and a bright orange flag visible on the right.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual scene at a camp setting with pine trees and a grey building behind. A long-haired man in a cream kurta and white dhoti sits on a wooden seat behind a small brick fire pit containing burning wood and offerings, his hands raised to his face. A kneeling woman in a white sari with a yellow border holds a plate of offerings toward him. Standing around him, men in white kurtas and dhotis hold up ornate red, orange and gold canopies with tasseled fringes and bird emblems, while a man in a black jacket holds a tall canopy pole. A tall brass oil lamp stands at right, and brass vessels and a bell are on the ground. A man in a dark jacket and glasses stands behind with his hands folded.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual in a wooded camp setting with snow patches. A woman in white garments with gold borders sits with palms pressed together in prayer behind a brick fire pit (homa kunda) holding wood and flowers. A kneeling woman in white and gold-bordered cream dress offers a plate of flowers and rice beside the pit. Several people stand behind holding ornate decorated umbrellas with orange, red and white fabric and floral patterns, and brass oil lamps and kalashas are placed around the platform. Standing attendants in white and dark jackets watch, one man wearing a rudraksha-style mala. Coconuts, bananas and bowls of offerings sit on the ground in front.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a brick-lined fire pit with burning flame. A man with long dark hair, a red forehead mark and a cream silk kurta with gold-trimmed dhoti sits on a wooden chair, holding a copper vessel with flame and gesturing with his hand. Around him, people in white dhotis and kurtas stand and kneel; a woman in a blue shawl and others in dark jackets are nearby. Brass oil lamps, a brass bell, kalasha pots, and offerings of flowers and sticks lie on a table and the ground. A woman in white kneels at left. Garlands of colored flowers hang at right on a wooden pole, and snow is visible on the ground.2006-04-01A homa fire ceremony outdoors in a wooded camp setting with snow visible in the background. A central figure with long dark hair wears a cream and gold-bordered white garment and sits on a wooden seat, hands raised over a brick-lined fire pit decorated with marigold petals and rangoli-style patterns. A woman in cream clothing kneels at the left, tending offerings and wood beside plates of fruit and flowers. Standing behind, men in white kurta-style clothes and dark jackets hold tall brass lamps and ornate orange and red parasol-like canopies, with a woman in blue at the right holding one as well. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like vessel sit on a white-draped table, with a garland of multicolored beads on the right.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a fire pit lined with brick, where a long-haired person in a cream and gold-bordered robe sits on a carved wooden seat, holding a small ritual vessel and a ladle-like implement over the flame. A kneeling woman in white with a cream shawl tends offerings of wood and herbs on brass trays in front. Behind, a man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holds a tall pole under a red-fringed canopy, a bald man in white with a red-and-gold stole stands with a cloth, and others in white and blue stand near brass lamps and a brass kalasha on a table draped with garlands. This appears to be a homa or yagna with a fire pit, offerings and standing attendants.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a forested camp with snow on the ground. A long-haired man in cream and gold-bordered white robes sits on a wooden chair before a brick fire pit with burning wood, holding a ladle-like vessel over the flames. A man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a large ornate red, orange and gold parasol overhead. Behind them a man in a red shawl and white kurta holds a hand to his mouth, and a man in a dark jacket and white pants stands beside a tall brass lamp stand. A woman in white sari with gold border sits at left beside brass plates of flowers and offerings, and a woman in a light blue jacket watches from the back left. Brass kalasha vessels and lamps are arranged on the ground. Photographed as a homa-style fire offering.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a snowy camp with a brick-lined homa fire pit in front, flames rising from burning wood and offerings on plates of flowers and fruit. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered kurta sits centrally with hands pressed together, seated on a cushion. A woman in a white and gold-bordered shawl kneels at left beside the fire. Standing behind, a man in a black leather jacket and white kurta holds a red and gold ornate umbrella, while a man in white with a dark shawl holds a brass oil lamp stand. A person in a light blue headwrap and brown jacket holds a yellow and red umbrella at right. Brass lamps, a garlanded kalasha-like vessel and a shrine with marigold garlands are on a white-draped table nearby. Four to six people are visible.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a snowy forest camp. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged behind a brick fire pit lined with marigold-yellow flowers, feeding offerings into a small fire while raising one hand. Near him a woman in a white shawl kneels beside silver bowls and yellow flowers, and a man in dark jacket and white dhoti holds a long red-and-orange ceremonial umbrella. A bearded man in a red fleece and gold-bordered red shawl stands holding a long staff. Brass oil lamps and a hand bell rest on the ground, and several people in white and in colourful umbrellas and fabric stand nearby. The scene looks like a homa or yagna with a fire pit, not a crowd event.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in snowy mountain camp. A central figure with long dark hair wears a cream and gold embroidered garment and sits on a wooden seat, hands extended over a square fire pit with kindling, flowers and oranges set around it. A woman in white with a sheer white shawl kneels at left holding a brass plate of yellow flowers, and a man in dark clothes crouches beside her. Standing devotees in white and dark jackets hold tall brass lamps and ceremonial ornate red-and-gold umbrella-like parasols. A brass oil lamp stands at right beside a copper-coloured deity murti draped with red cloth and a garland. Snow and wooden cabins are visible behind.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a wooded camp in winter, with snow patches visible. A long-haired man in a cream and gold silk garment and white dhoti sits in front of a brick fire pit where a flame burns, raising one hand in a gesture. A woman in white with a gold-bordered shawl kneels at left holding a brass dish. Behind him stand men in white kurtas and a man in a red shawl holding a large multicoloured parasol with fringed tassels and bird motifs. A tall brass oil lamp with a lit flame stands at right beside a brass bell and offerings of marigolds and fruit. Several onlookers in jackets watch nearby. Swamiji appearance is probable for the seated central figure: long swept-back hair and a gold-bordered cream garment, with the sitter's ritual seat and the parasol framing him as the central officiant. Visible rituals appear to be a homa at the fire pit with a brass lamp and offerings.2006-04-01Outdoor homa at a brick fire pit in a snowy pine setting. A long-haired man in white and cream robes with gold trim sits cross-legged on a chair, hands cupped over the flames. Beside him, a woman in cream shawl kneels with offerings. Standing figures in white kurta-style clothing hold large red, orange and yellow decorated parasols, one holding a ceremonial lamp. Brass lamps, a bowl, a skull-like cup, wood sticks and marigold petals lie on trays. A woman in a blue headscarf stands at right beside a table with garlands and a small decorated pyramid-shaped object. Snow lies on the ground behind them.2006-04-01