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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.

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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 temple ritual at night. Two tall flames rise from a fire pit in front of a decorated shrine with several deity murtis dressed in colourful garments and garlands, framed by yellow and red flower festoons. A shirtless man in a white dhoti with gold borders and a yellow turban holds a brass plate, wearing a gold chain and a beaded mala. Palm fronds and a carved golden pillar frame the scene, and a small decorated figure with green leaves and white flowers sits in the foreground. The setting suggests a homa or fire ritual.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.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 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 of a temple shrine during a homa ritual. A fire burns in a pit in the foreground, with a small offering arranged in flowers at its edge. Behind it stand several decorated deity murtis, with a large central figure in a red and gold setting, flanked by others draped in white and multicolored garlands, with yellow and green accents. Tall palm-leaf posts frame the shrine, and a brass lamp and vessels sit on the floor. A priest in a white dhoti and white head cloth stands at left, facing the shrine. At right, a seated person in a red head cloth and garlands of white and multicolored flowers sits near the shrine.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 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.A 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 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 homa fire burning in front of a decorated deity shrine. A central goddess murti in red and gold garments and a large golden crown stands between two other deity murtis adorned with marigold garlands and flower offerings. Yellow and orange draped cloth frames the shrine, with palm-leaf decorations on either side. Brass vessels and a kalasha with white flowers sit on the platform in the foreground. At the left edge, a partly visible seated figure wears a white head wrap and a red shawl, and at the right edge another person in a red wrap and garland is partly visible. The scene is a homa or yagna in a shrine setting.A photograph of a fire ritual inside a temple shrine. A large, bright sacred fire burns in a stone-edged pit in the foreground, with a floral-decorated offering arrangement of white and red flowers placed on the stone below it. Behind the fire, several ornately decorated deity murti stand under golden arches decorated with garlands of yellow flowers and multicoloured white and red beads. Palm-leaf toran strands frame both sides of the shrine. On the right, a figure seated on a golden throne wears a red turban and is garlanded with bead and flower garlands in red, green, yellow and white. A brass lamp and a metal bowl sit near the fire pit. No people are standing in the shot apart from the seated figure, whose face is visible.