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A photograph of a homa at night inside a decorated shrine. A large fire burns in a stone-lined pit in the foreground, with a bowl of offerings and a garland on a red and pink cloth beside it. Behind the fire, three ornate deity murti stand under a gold-trimmed canopy, one adorned with red and gold garments and a silver face. Two men stand at right with their backs partly to the camera: the nearer one is bare-chested with white sacred markings on his shoulder and arm, wearing a white dhoti with a gold border and a gold shawl, hands folded in prayer; the other wears a white turban and white dhoti with a gold border and presses his palms together. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha sit near the fire, with garlands and a colourful cloth hanging behind the shrine.

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A photograph of a nighttime homa at a temple-style shrine. A large fire blazes in a pit in the foreground, with a coconut wrapped in red cloth and white flower garland placed before it. Behind the fire stands a decorated deity murti with a golden crown, red and gold garments and a silver face, flanked by multicoloured floral garlands and gold-painted panels. A standing man in the right foreground, bare-chested with a yellow-and-white cloth over his shoulder and a yellow headcloth, holds his hands in anjali. A brass oil lamp and another man in white dhoti with orange border stand at the right edge, and gold carved pillars frame the left side.A photograph of a fire ritual at a temple-style altar. Two bare-chested men in white dhoti with gold borders stand at left; the nearer one holds a red cloth-covered offering plate with folded palms raised, and both wear white and gold-bead garlands and white marks on their bodies. In the centre a large fire blazes in a pit, with a metal vessel and offerings at its base. Behind it, three ornately decorated deity murtis in gold and white stand before a yellow canopy, adorned with flower garlands in green, yellow and red. A tall brass pillar and green palm leaves frame the scene.A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a decorated shrine. A large fire burns in front of an elaborately decorated deity murti set against a golden-yellow and colourful garlanded backdrop, with a kumkum-marked idol-like form at centre. Two priests in white dhotis flank the fire: one on the left holds an offering and wears a rudraksha mala, and one on the right stands with palms joined in namaskar, wearing a white turban, white dhoti and bare chest with beaded necklaces. A figure in a red turban and red garment sits on a red-and-gold throne-like seat, draped with garlands in green, red, yellow and white. Green palm-leaf torans frame the fire, and a brass lamp and a garlanded offering sit near the flames.A photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual at night in a decorated temple pavilion. A large fire blazes in a pit in the foreground, with a garlanded kalasha or offering near its base. Behind it stands a tiered arrangement of deity murtis adorned with garlands and flower decorations, with a central goddess figure in red and gold. Two priests in white dhoti and shawls stand on either side with palm-leaf toran posts. On the right, a man with a white turban and bare chest, wearing a rudraksha mala and gold chain, presses his palms together beside an ornate gold throne draped in a garland of red, green and white flowers. Multicoloured flower garlands hang along the top of the tent.A temple shrine interior during a fire ritual. A large flame burns in a fire pit in the centre, with a decorated altar behind it holding deity murtis with garlands and ornate gold and red coverings. Tall green palm-leaf decorations flank the fire on either side, and the walls are carved golden pillars. In the foreground, offerings of flowers, leaves and fruit are arranged on a platter in front of the fire pit. On the right, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a light green cloth on his head stands with palms pressed together in prayer. This appears to be a homa at a shrine.A photograph of a nighttime homa at a temple-like shrine. A large fire burns in a sunken pit in the foreground, with a green and red cloth-draped offering and white flower garlands placed near it. Three men stand at left and right with hands joined in namaskar; two at left wear white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies with rudraksha or bead necklaces, and one at right wears a white dhoti with gold border and a bead mala. Behind the fire, a deity murti is decorated with garlands and flanked by colourful framed images. Palm-leaf toranas frame the scene, and a seated figure in red and white garlands sits on an ornate gold chair at right. Festival bunting in pink, yellow and green hangs above.A photograph of a homa fire ceremony inside a decorated temple hall. A large fire burns in the centre before a deity murti framed by ornate garlands and a golden arch, with a green cloth and white flower garland placed on a low offering platform in front of the flames. On the right, a figure seated on a gold throne wears a red turban and a multicoloured flower garland, with a red cloth on the seat. Three men stand on the left and right in white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies; they press their palms together in anjali. Palm-leaf stalks flank the fire and colourful bunting hangs above. +1 copiesA photograph of a homa ritual at a temple shrine. Two priests stand at left: the one on the far left is bare-chested with a yellow turban and gold chains, holding a silver tray draped in red cloth; the second wears a white turban, white dhoti and a rudraksha-style bead necklace. In the centre a sacred fire burns in a fire pit before a decorated shrine with multiple deity murtis adorned with yellow and marigold garlands, backed by a gold and orange canopy with flower festoons. Brass lamps and offerings sit on the altar. Bright red and orange patterned cloth panels frame the scene.A ritual fire ceremony in a decorated temple hall. A large fire burns before a richly ornamented deity murti with a golden crown and multiple raised arms, set against a gold-and-red drape. Three priests in white dhotis with gold-bordered cloths stand around the fire; the priest at right, bare-chested with a rudraksha mala, presses his palms together, while the left-side priests, one wearing a saffron-orange cloth, perform the offering. Tall green palm-leaf posts flank the fire pit, which holds a garlanded, red-and-white draped offering. At right, a figure in a red and white robe with a striped shawl sits on a golden throne before a painted pillar.Photograph of a homa ritual at an ornate temple-style shrine. A fire burns bright in the centre before a pair of deity murtis with gold crowns and multicoloured backdrops. In the foreground a fire pit area holds a garland of white flowers and green beads draped over a red and blue cloth. Three men stand in the scene: at left a man in a white dhoti and yellow head cloth holds a brass plate of yellow powder and wears a rudraksha-style mala and gold necklace; in the centre-right a man in a white dhoti with a yellow cloth on his head stands with hands folded in prayer; at right another man in white dhoti with hands joined wears beaded necklaces. Tall palm fronds and a yellow-draped canopy frame the shrine. Three people are visible.Night photograph of a fire ritual at a shrine. Flames rise from a fire pit in the center, with a green-and-red draped kalasha or offering bundle decorated with white flowers in front of it. Behind the fire, a deity murti with multiple arms stands in a gilded shrine framed by colourful festoons and a golden arch. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand at left, one with hands folded in namaskar and one holding a ritual object. At right, a man in a red turret-style turban and a multicolour garland sits on an ornate gold-and-red throne, while a priest in white with a gold-bordered dhoti stands at far right with palms joined. Tall green palm-leaf pillars frame the scene. This appears to be a homa or puja ritual.A photograph of a fire ritual at night in a temple setting. Two bare-chested priests in white dhoti stand either side of a burning homa fire. The priest on the left wears a white turban, a rudraksha mala and a gold pendant, and holds white and green flower garlands up while a long wooden stick is raised above them. The priest on the right wears a yellow turban and a white dhoti, with his palms pressed together in anjali and white markings on his chest and arms. Behind the fire stands a decorated deity murti with a golden crown, flanked by garlands, marigold festoons and an orange-yellow cloth canopy. Brass oil lamps and a ceremonial red-and-green garland sit nearby.