Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a homa ritual inside a decorated temple shrine at night. A fire burns in a stone fire pit in the foreground, beside a wrapped offering bundle decorated with red and gold cloth and white flowers. Behind it, a deity murti stands in a golden shrine lined with colourful garlands, yellow and pink flowers and kalasha pots. On the left, a bare-chested man in a yellow turban and white dhoti holds a tray with a red cloth. Beside him, another priest in white stands near a red cloth and palm leaf decorations. On the right, a bare-chested man in a white turban and white dhoti stands with palms pressed together in anjali. A seated figure in a red turban and white and red garlanded robes sits on an ornate golden throne at the right edge, with a rudraksha-style necklace visible on the standing priest. Several people are visible in the scene.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a night-time Navaratri devi puja inside a temple hall. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand around a decorated altar: the man on the left in a yellow turban holds a small brass bell or vessel, the priest in the centre holds a lit oil lamp, and the man on the right in a white turban stands with palms pressed together. A raised golden canopy hangs with striped festoon drapes above three deity murti decorated with marigold and multicolour garlands, flanked by a golden throne. In front, a fire pit with flames sits beside a kalasha-like offering covered in red and gold cloth and a white flower garland, with palm-leaf stalks framing the scene.A temple ritual at KAILASA Hyderabad during Navaratri. At the centre, a decorated deity murti of a goddess sits in a golden canopy framed by palm-leaf stalks, with garlands and a red-and-green draped backdrop. In front, a small fire pit burns with a flower-garlanded offering on a red cloth. Four men in white dhotis stand around it: at left, a bare-chested priest with a yellow turban and folded hands; a second bare-chested man with a white turban and rudraksha mala; at right, a man with a white turban, rudraksha mala and folded hands; and a figure in a red turban and white garment seated at the far right. Brass oil lamps sit on the platform and a golden throne-like chair stands at right.A photograph of a homa ritual in a decorated temple hall. A large fire burns in a pit at centre-front, with a kalasha-like offering and a flower-decked deity murti in red and blue behind it. Behind the fire stand three decorated deity murtis with golden crowns on a red-draped altar, flanked by bright floral and striped drapes and green palm-leaf torans. On the left, two priests in white dhotis stand with bare upper bodies and white shawls and garlands, one holding a red-cloth-covered tray with his palms joined. On the far right, a seated figure in red headwear, white and multicoloured garlands and a gold chair is shown, with a decorative golden throne behind. Four to five people are visible, including partial figures.Three bare-chested men in white dhotis and white or yellow turbans stand before a decorated deity shrine during a homa. The man on the left wears white and holds a plate of red offerings, the man in the centre wears a yellow turban and holds a plate of flowers and leaves, and the man on the right wears a white turban and holds a plate draped in pink cloth. Each wears gold necklaces and carries white ash marks on the arms and chest. In the centre, a fire burns in a fire pit decorated with a garland, and behind them three deity murtis sit under a yellow canopy with colourful festoons, palm-leaf pillars and a rangoli-style backdrop.A homa fire burns in a decorated temple-style mandap with a golden pillar and palm-leaf posts. Behind the fire, a deity murti group sits on a red-and-gold altar framed by colourful striped drapes and marigold garlands. In front of the fire a red and blue cloth-draped kalasha or offering bundle is garlanded with white flowers and green leaves. Four men stand around the fire: two on the left in white dhotis with bare upper bodies, one holding a red cloth-covered tray and wearing a rudraksha-style necklace, and one on the right in a white dhoti and yellow-bordered cloth with palms joined in greeting. A seated figure on an ornate gold-and-red throne wears a red turban, multicolour striped garlands and a patterned striped shawl, with hands resting in his lap. Vibhuti marks show on several foreheads.Four bare-chested priests stand before a decorated shrine during a fire ritual. The shrine holds several deity murti in front of a gold and orange canopy, with marigold garlands and a palm-leaf arch framing the scene. A flaming fire pit with a garlanded blue-and-red cloth offering sits in the centre. The priest on the left, in white dhoti with gold border and a white shawl, holds a brass plate of red offerings. The man in the centre wears a yellow turban, gold chain and rudraksha-style beads, and holds a pink cloth bundle. The priest on the right wears a white turban, gold necklace, and holds a plate with red flowers. All wear white dhotis with gold borders and white ash markings.A photograph of a ritual homa at a temple shrine. A small fire burns on a raised altar in front of a decorated deity murti, with white and green flower offerings placed at its base. Behind the altar, a deity murti in red and gold robes sits beneath a gold and red canopy strung with multicoloured garlands, flanked by additional figures. Three men stand to the sides: on the left a bare-chested man in a yellow turban with gold chain and white dhoti holds his palms together in namaskar; in the centre a bare-chested man in white dhoti raises his hand near the fire; on the right a man in a red turban and rainbow-striped garland sits and a standing man in white dhoti folds his hands. Tall palm-leaf decorations frame the scene.A temple ritual scene at KAILASA Hyderabad. Two bare-chested priests stand on either side of a fire pit. The left priest wears a white dhoti and white turban, a rudraksha-style bead mala and a gold pendant, and holds a brass plate of red offerings. The right priest wears a yellow turban, a bead necklace with a gold pendant, and holds a plate covered with a red cloth. Behind them a decorated shrine has a central deity murti in green and red robes with a yellow halo, flanked by smaller figures, under garlands of marigolds and orange-and-purple floral festoons. A yellow tent canopy and palm-leaf decorations frame the scene. A flame burns in the foreground fire pit with green-leaf and flower offerings, indicating a homa ritual.A photograph of a devi darshan homa at a temple shrine. In the centre, a fire burns over a homa pit with a kalasha or offering covered in red and white cloth, garlanded with white flowers and green leaves. Behind, a large ornate deity murti of a goddess sits within a golden arched shrine decorated with colourful striped and floral garlands, with flanking figures and a garland-draped stand. Two priests in white dhoti with gold borders stand with hands folded in anjali; one on the left holds a ritual object, and another priest on the right wears a white dhoti, bare upper body and rudraksha mala. Palm-leaf toran decorations frame the scene, and a decorated pillar with floral and elephant motifs stands at the right edge. Three people are visible.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.Photograph inside a temple shrine during a homa ritual. Four men in white dhotis with gold borders stand around a central fire pit where flames rise over a decorated pedestal. At left, a bare-chested priest with white sacred markings on his body and a white head cloth gestures toward the fire. Two men at centre and right, bare-chested with gold chains and beaded necklaces, hold brass plates of offerings; the centre man wears a yellow turban. Behind them stands a large gold-and-orange canopy with floral garlands and a colourful striped drape, framing a deity murti group adorned with yellow and red flowers and a garland of white and green blossoms. Golden brass lamps and a palm frond stand nearby. A seated figure in a red and multicoloured-striped shawl sits in an ornate gold throne at the right edge.A photograph inside a temple shrine during a devi puja. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand around a central fire, the middle priest holding a lit lamp, the right priest with palms joined in namaskar. The left priest wears a yellow-orange turban and rudraksha-style beaded necklaces. Behind the fire is a gilded deity murti of a goddess decorated with red and green garlands, flanked by smaller figures and brass kalashas with offerings. Tall palm fronds frame the scene, and a red and gold throne with garlands sits to the right.