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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.

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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 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 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 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 homa ritual inside a decorated temple shrine at night. A large fire burns in a pit in the centre foreground, with a golden kalasha-style vessel and offerings nearby. Behind it, a golden shrine holds three deity murtis adorned with garlands and colourful bangles, backed by multicoloured drapery. On the left, two priests in white dhotis with bare upper bodies stand with folded hands and a red-cloth-covered tray, one wearing a white shawl and rudraksha-style beads. On the right, a seated figure in a red turban and a multicoloured garland sits on an ornate golden throne beside palm-leaf torans. A decorated peetha with flower garlands is in the foreground.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 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.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.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 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 temple-style shrine tableau with a golden-yellow canopy and draped cloth. Central deity murti in red and green garments stands before a row of smaller figures, backed by a large arch decorated with rainbow-coloured ribbons and white flower garlands. In front, a rectangular homa fire pit lined with yellow paste holds burnt logs and ash, with a brass vessel beside it. On the left, a priest in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala holds a small oil lamp. On the right, a seated figure in a red turban and a bright multicolour garland of white, yellow, green and red flowers sits on a carved golden throne with a red cushion, beside a palm-leaf screen and decorated pillars.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.