Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Outdoor 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.

More like this

Open the gallery
Outdoor fire ritual in snowy woodland. A long-haired man in cream and white robes sits on a raised seat at the centre of a brick homa fire pit lined with yellow and orange flowers, hands extended palms-down over the flames, eyes closed. Two ceremonial umbrellas with red, orange and gold fabric and embroidered bird motifs stand above him, held by men and a woman in white clothing. A woman in white kneels at left holding a plate of offerings, and a man in dark jacket crouches beside her. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, coconut, wooden kindling and small bowls surround the pit. Snow lies on the ground behind the wooden structures.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a wooded camp with snow patches. A long-haired man in a cream and gold silk dhoti and shawl sits on a low seat, holding a small brass lamp with a flame over a square brick fire pit lined with yellow-marigold garlands and filled with wood sticks. Around him, several people in white garments stand and kneel: a man in white with a gold-bordered wrap holds a tall ornate umbrella, another man in black jacket and white dhoti holds a second umbrella, and a man in white with a black shawl and pendant stands nearby. A woman in cream sari kneels at left arranging offerings on a tray of coconut, flowers, grains and wood. Brass lamps and vessels stand around. Red and orange ceremonial umbrellas with fringe and a rope of colourful flowers appear at right. A fire ritual.2006-04-01An outdoor homa at a wooded camp. A long-haired man in cream and gold-bordered white robes sits on a low wooden seat with his palms cupped over a small brick fire pit where flames burn; a woman in a cream shawl kneels beside him at the fire. Around them stand attendants in white kurtas, a dark jacket and a brown jacket; a woman in a light blue jacket and a woman in a blue head covering hold large decorated umbrellas with red and yellow panels showing white doves. Brass lamps, a brass kalasha and a brass bell sit on a white-draped table, with marigold flower garlands and fruit offerings on banana leaves and trays in front. Patches of snow lie on the ground behind.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual under overcast skies beneath decorated umbrellas. A man with long dark hair sits in a cream and white ceremonial outfit, his hand extended over a brick fire pit where a fire burns with offerings and sticks. A woman in a black head covering and white sari kneels at left beside a tray of offerings and a container. Behind them, a man in a dark leather jacket and another in white kurta stand near a table with brass lamps. A bearded man in a red shawl and brown cap holds a brass lamp, and a figure in a blue hooded garment holds an orange flag. Garlands of colourful beads hang on a small rounded shrine with a red cloth. The man seated centre has an appearance-based cue of long swept-back hair and ceremonial clothing, labelled as a probable match for Swamiji, presiding over the fire ritual, a homa.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor homa at a wooded camp with snow on the ground. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered white garment sits on a wooden seat behind a brick fire pit with burning embers, hands pressed together in prayer. A woman in a cream shawl kneels at the left beside offerings of flowers, fruit, a coconut and bundled sticks. Behind them, standing attendants in white clothing and dark jackets hold red, gold and orange umbrellas and a tall brass lamp stand. A small conical sacred stone with a red cloth and garlands sits at the right, and a flag hangs at the upper right.2006-04-01Outdoor homa at a snowy camp in pine woods. A seated man in white dhoti and a cream shawl with gold border sits before a brick fire pit where a small fire burns; his hands are raised to his head. Around him, standing men in white clothes and a man in a red shawl hold ceremonial items; a woman in a white sari sits to the left beside brass bowls of flowers and wood. A brass lamp stand and a tall red-and-orange canopy with fringe stand behind. Several people in winter jackets are visible at the edges.2006-04-01Outdoor photograph of a homa at a forest camp, with a fire burning in a square brick-and-tile fire pit. A man with long dark hair, wearing a cream kurta and white dhoti, sits cross-legged at the fire, holding a wooden ladle and offering into the flames. A woman in a white sari sits at left beside offerings and a bowl. Behind them, a standing man in a black leather jacket, a man in a white kurta with a rudraksha mala, and a man in a red shawl and maroon top hold red and orange ceremonial umbrellas and a tall brass lamp stand. A brass kalasha and garlands of flowers appear at right. Trees and overcast light surround the scene.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a wooded mountain camp under overcast skies. A long-haired man in a cream and gold embroidered kurta with a white shawl sits cross-legged before a brick-lined fire pit, his hands extended over a small flame; a bowl sits near the fire. Behind him stand devotees in white dhotis and orange-red shawls, one holding a large golden oil lamp, and figures under orange and red umbrellas. A woman in a cream and gold sari kneels at left beside offering trays with flowers and fruit. Brass pots and bells rest on tables, and a garlanded kalasha stands at right.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor fire ritual. A man with long dark hair, dressed in a cream and gold embroidered kurta and white dhoti, sits on a chair before a brick fire pit with burning wood and a brass bowl of offerings. A woman in a white sari with gold border kneels at left holding a brass plate. Behind him, a man in a dark jacket holds a large multicoloured umbrella canopy, while a man in a red jacket with a gold-striped shawl and a person in white and black stand nearby. A tall brass lamp stand and a bell sit at right, with a bright ceremonial umbrella and other attendants in white.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy pine forest. A seated man with long dark hair, wearing a cream and white garment with gold border, sits on a wooden chair with arms crossed over his chest in front of a brick fire pit where a wood fire burns with flowers and offerings. Behind him, men in white dhotis and a man in a red-brown shawl hold a multicoloured fringed canopy and ceremonial parasols. To the left a woman in a white sari holds a brass bowl beside plates of flowers and offerings, and a brass oil lamp stands at right. Brass vessels and a bell rest near the fire.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy wooded campsite. A long-haired man in a cream and gold dhoti-style garment with gold trim sits cross-legged at a brick-lined fire pit, pouring a liquid from a small metal vessel into the flames of a homa. Beside him a woman in white sits on the ground with ritual items. Several people in white kurta-pajama and dark jackets stand behind, one holding a tall brass lamp. Behind them, an ornate red and yellow ceremonial umbrella with bird motifs shades the scene. Brass lamps, kalasha-style vessels, plates of fruit and wood, and a garlanded seat with a red cloth are arranged around the fire. Snow lies on the ground and cabins are visible in the background.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual with a central figure seated in cream and white traditional garments, hands joined in a mudra and long dark hair falling loosely, in front of a brick fire pit with a burning flame and offerings of flowers and grains. A woman in a dark shawl and white attire kneels on the left holding a metal tray, while standing devotees in white and red shawls, a man in a black jacket and a person in a blue hooded garment stand behind. Ornate brass lamps and a brass kalasha-style vessel stand beside the fire, with ceremonial umbrellas in orange, red and gold overhead and a garland of multicoloured flowers at right. The setting is a damp outdoor camp under a white umbrella. a person: the seated central figure has long swept-back hair and ornate cream attire, and is the presiding figure at the homa.2006-04-01