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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.

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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 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 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.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 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 ceremony inside a decorated temple hall. A large fire burns in the centre before a deity murti framed by ornate garlands and a golden arch, with a green cloth and white flower garland placed on a low offering platform in front of the flames. On the right, a figure seated on a gold throne wears a red turban and a multicoloured flower garland, with a red cloth on the seat. Three men stand on the left and right in white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies; they press their palms together in anjali. Palm-leaf stalks flank the fire and colourful bunting hangs above. +1 copiesA 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 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 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 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 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 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.