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A priest stands at the left edge of the frame, bare-chested with white vibhuti-style markings on his upper arms, wearing a white dhoti with a gold border and a white head cloth. He holds a small lamp with a flame aloft in his right hand, a rudraksha bracelet on his wrist and a flower garland around his neck. Before him a sacred fire burns in a raised golden fire pit scattered with red flower petals, the centre of a homa. Behind the fire, a shrine is draped with red and gold cloth and holds three decorated kalasha-like pots or deity faces with white and orange flower garlands, flanked by brass lamps under a gold-carved canopy. The setting is a homa pavilion with gold pillars and a tented roof.

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A shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a yellow border and a white head cloth with yellow stripes stands beside a fire pit during a homa. He wears a long gold-coloured bead necklace and holds a brass bell in his right hand while raising a flame-lit oil lamp. Behind the fire pit, a golden canopy with carved gold trim and red and gold drapes frames a small altar with a lit oil lamp, marigold garlands and a deity face image. Red flower petals are scattered on the orange fire pit wall and a bright fire burns in the pit. The priest is a single person in the scene, and the photo shows an active Sudarshan homa ritual.2025-12-30A photograph of a fire ritual inside a temple-like shrine with a gold-toned carved arch and red and gold draped cloth backdrop. A priest stands in profile at left, shirtless with white and gold-bordered dhoti, a white and gold-striped head cloth, a beaded garland and sacred ash markings on his arm and chest, holding an offering vessel toward a large blazing fire pit. Red flower petals are scattered on the raised platform, and a brass oil lamp stands at right beside the fire. A small floral arrangement sits near the fire. The fire pit is consistent with a homa offering.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a golden-pillared temple canopy. In the foreground a shirtless priest with a white dhoti and white head cloth, with a rudraksha-style bead necklace and white sacred markings on his arm and back, holds a lit flame toward the fire pit. A second man in white garments stands at the left edge. Behind the fire, a deity murti with a flower garland sits on a red-draped altar, flanked by two smaller murtis with flower garlands. Red and gold drapes, saffron banners and ornate gold columns frame the setting, with a bright fire burning before a white cloth-covered offering.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open-sided temple structure with a gold-toned carved canopy and golden pillars. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with yellow borders and a white head covering with yellow stripes stands at left, wearing a gold chain and beaded mala, one hand extended over the fire pit. The sacred fire burns in a raised earthen fire pit scattered with red flower petals. Behind the fire, a deity murti is decorated with white and green flower garlands in front of gold and red drapery, and a brass oil lamp stands at right.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a golden-pillared shrine hall. A priest in a white dhoti with yellow borders and a white head cloth stands at left, partly cut off by the frame, bare-chested with a gold necklace and white sacred markings on his chest, arm extended toward a fire pit. A large flame rises from the square fire pit, which is scattered with red and pink petals. Behind it stands an ornate golden canopy with red and gold draped cloth, and a blue niche holding a deity murti decorated with flower garlands. A brass oil lamp stands at right beside a gold pillar.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual under a gold-draped canopy with gold pillars and red and gold curtains. A fire burns in a stone fire pit at the centre, with scattered red rose petals around it. Behind is an altar with two decorated deity murti heads garlanded with white flowers and green leaves, a yellow floral arrangement, and brass oil lamps. On the left, a bare-chested priest in a white head wrap and gold rudraksha mala holds a ladle-like ritual implement near a brass vessel. In the centre, a bare-chested priest in a white turban and white dhoti bends over the fire pit, pouring offerings. On the right, another priest in a white turban, white dhoti and gold chain stands beside the fire pit with white-painted body markings.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa ritual at an open-sided temple structure with gold and red draped cloth. A shirtless man with a white and gold-bordered head cloth and white dhoti with gold border stands at left, wearing a heavy gold bead necklace, a rudraksha mala and red-thread bracelets, while he holds a brass hand bell in his right hand and a lit brass oil lamp above the fire pit. Behind him a brass arch frames a deity murti decorated with white and yellow flowers and garlands. In front, a raised mud fire pit burns with flames and is scattered with red flower petals. Brass lamps stand on either side of the altar. The man has white markings on his arms and chest, showing a priest performing the Sudarshan homa fire ritual.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a temple-style shelter with carved wooden pillars and a carved wooden canopy. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold borders and a white turban with gold stripes stands at left, wearing a gold-bead garland and a rudraksha-style mala, with white sandal marks on his chest and arms. He holds a brass bowl of blue liquid toward a burning fire pit. Behind the fire, a deity murti is decorated with flowers under a blue-and-gold backdrop, draped with yellow and red cloth. Brass oil lamps and a small brass lamp stand at right, and red flower petals are scattered on the stone platform. A second hand is partially visible at right edge.2025-12-30A photograph of a ritual at a homa altar under a golden, carved canopy with red and gold drapes. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white turban with gold stripes stands at left, holding a ritual vessel or lamp over a kneeling devotee. The devotee wears a white garment with a green and gold-bordered sari-style cloth and is bent low before a fire pit with bright flames. Behind them are brass pots decorated with white and orange flower garlands on a red-draped altar, with a brass lamp stand at right. Red flower petals are scattered on the stone platform, consistent with a fire ritual such as a homa. No one in the scene is identifiable as a person from appearance.2025-12-30A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with gold border and a white head cloth with gold edging stands before a shrine, holding a lit oil lamp in both hands toward a deity murti decorated with white and green flower garlands and a white cloth. He wears a gold necklace and rudraksha malas on his arms and chest. Behind him are golden carved arches, red and yellow draped fabric, and a small fire burning in front of the shrine, with brass lamps at the right. The setting suggests a puja or aarti at a temple shrine.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a gold-draped temple pavilion. A square stone fire pit with a lit flame sits at the centre, scattered with red flower petals. Behind it, a red-draped altar holds two ornate deity murti, each garlanded with white and red flowers, flanked by brass oil lamps. Two men stand at the right in white dhotis with yellow borders and white cloth draped over their shoulders; one wears a gold necklace and red thread, and both have white tripundra markings on their bare chests. A third man in white with a yellow-bordered cloth stands at the far left beside a brass bowl and a brass horn. Gold pillars frame the scene.2025-12-30Photo of a homa fire ritual in a gold-pillared shrine canopy with gold and red drapes. Three priests in white dhotis with gold borders and white headcloths stand around an orange-painted fire altar holding burning wood and flames. The central priest, bare-chested with a rudraksha-style mala, places wood into the fire. The left priest holds a brass ladle over a brass bowl, and the right priest wears a flower garland and holds a tray. Behind the altar are decorated flower offerings, a blue-framed deity image, brass lamps and red petals scattered on the altar.2025-12-30