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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.

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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 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 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.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 temple puja inside a decorated shrine. Two bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold-bordered edges and white head cloths stand at a fire pit; the priest on the right, wearing a gold-trimmed turban and a white beaded garland, holds a brass plate of offerings. Behind them, colourful tiered deity murtis with gold crowns and garlands of marigolds and red flowers are set on a red cloth-covered platform. Palm fronds frame the scene, and a purple cloth-wrapped object garlanded with white flowers and green leaves lies on a yellow cloth in the foreground. Painted red, yellow and white pillars, a gold throne and brass lamps surround the space.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 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.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 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.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 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 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.