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A photograph of a homa ritual inside a decorated temple pavilion with a golden-yellow canopy and palm-leaf pillars. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth, wearing a rudraksha mala, stands at a fire pit with flames and pours offerings. A second person in white stands at the left edge holding a bowl. Behind them stand deity murtis and decorated pots with colourful striped garlands. At right, a seated figure in a red turban and a white and green garland sits on a golden throne. In the foreground, a decorated object wrapped in red and blue cloth with white and green flower garlands rests before the fire. The scene shows a homa with deity images and offerings.

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A photograph of a ritual fire ceremony inside a decorated shrine. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold border and a white head cloth stands at a raised yellow-draped platform, holding an offering over a small blazing fire. He wears a rudraksha mala. Behind him stands a colourful decorated backdrop with deity murtis in red, green and gold, and a kalasha-like offering sits in front. Palm fronds frame the scene, and a brass vessel rests at left. On the right, a seated figure in a red turban and a white and red garland sits on a golden throne. A tiered brass lamp and a garlanded covered object lie before the fire pit.A temple interior during a homa ritual at KAILASA Hyderabad. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border holds a lit oil lamp in both hands; he wears a rudraksha mala and a gold necklace, with white sacred markings on his arms. Behind him stands a second priest in white and gold. Center right, a small sacred fire burns on a yellow-draped altar in front of a decorated deity murti, with garlands of white flowers and green leaves around it. The murti is backed by a golden arch, palm leaf stalks and colourful garlands. On the right, a man in a red turban and a multicoloured garland sits on a golden throne beside the altar. Brass lamps and offerings surround the scene.A homa fire burns in a fire pit on a yellow-draped platform inside a temple shrine decorated with palm fronds and gold-coloured pillars. A man in a white dhoti and white head cloth, bare-chested and wearing a white garland, tends the fire with his hands near a copper vessel. Behind him, a row of deity murtis stands before a golden arched backdrop with red and green details, with offerings and brass lamps in front. On the right, a seated figure in a red turban and a garland of white, red and green flowers sits on a golden throne. In the foreground, a decorated kalasha with flower garlands and a red and blue cloth sits before the fire. The setting suggests a homa ritual during Navaratri.A temple shrine at night during a homa, with a fire pit blazing in the foreground. Two priests stand on either side with palms pressed together in namaskar; the left priest holds a brass vessel, and both wear white dhotis with gold borders and beaded necklaces, one bare-chested. Behind the fire, a richly decorated deity arrangement sits under a golden arch with multiple deity murtis, adorned with flower garlands and marigold strands. Palm fronds frame the scene, and a golden-pillared hall surrounds the shrine. A small figure in a garland of white and green flowers sits before the fire pit on a red cloth.A photograph of a ritual inside a decorated temple hall. Three men in white dhotis with gold borders stand at left and centre; the two at left are bare-chested, one holding a woven basket and one wearing a red-and-yellow turban, and the centre man, also bare-chested, holds a lit lamp aloft. Behind them stands a deity murti under a golden arch, garlanded with flowers and framed by yellow and rainbow-striped drapery. In the foreground a fire pit with burning flame is decorated with white flowers and offerings. At right, a seated figure in a red turban wears a long garland of rainbow-coloured and white flowers on an ornate gold throne, with a tall palm-leaf arch framing the scene.A photograph inside a temple shrine during a homa fire ritual. In the centre, a large flame rises from a fire pit on a yellow-draped platform, with a red and blue silk-draped kalasha or sacred bundle decorated with white and green garlands in front. Behind it, a golden deity murti or decorated image with a crown and colourful garlands stands among flowers and a yellow canopy. On the right, a seated figure in a red turban, white robe and striped rainbow garlands sits on an ornate gold throne. Three men flank the scene: on the left, two bare-chested men in white dhoti with gold borders, one with palms pressed together and one tending the setup; on the far right, a bare-chested man in a white gold-bordered dhoti stands with palms joined. Palm-leaf toranas frame the scene and a kumkum-marked offering tray sits near the fire.Photograph of a temple ritual inside a decorated shrine hall. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold borders and white head cloths stand on either side of a central fire pit with flames. The priest on the left, wearing a white turban, reaches up to a tall palm-leaf pillar; the priest on the right, with a garland of white flowers and gold-trimmed cloth, holds a brass plate. Behind them is an altar with a decorated deity murti flanked by colourful festoons, golden ornaments and garlands. A pile of flowers and a decorated tiered pedestal lie in front of the fire, and a deity-themed figure wrapped in a red and blue cloth with white and green flower garlands sits in the foreground. Lamps and offerings are arranged around the sanctum.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 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.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.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 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.