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A fire ritual (homa) is performed inside a gold-pillared canopy with yellow and red drapes. A roaring fire burns in a raised yellow-orange fire pit strewn with red flower petals, in front of a gold shrine holding a deity murti decorated with white and yellow flower garlands. Three priests in white dhotis with gold borders and white head cloths sit or kneel around the pit; one, bare-chested, pours from a metal vessel, another holds a ladle-like tool. A seated figure on the right wears a rudraksha mala and a white head wrap, bare-chested, sitting on a gold-carved chair, while a person in pink stands behind him. Brass oil lamps and offerings are on green cloths.

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A homa fire ritual in an open-sided pavilion with gold-painted pillars and gold and red draped fabric. A blazing fire burns in a yellow-painted fire pit in the centre. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis with white head cloths and beaded necklaces sit around it, one on the left with a sacred thread and body markings, one in the foreground with a white shawl, and one on the right. Behind the fire is a shrine with a deity murti decorated with white garlands and flowers, a blue backdrop, and a golden ornate peetha seat at the right edge where a person in a red turban and white garland sits. Marigold and red flower petals are scattered around the fire pit.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a gold-draped temple pavilion. A bright fire burns in a brick fire pit on a gold-covered platform, scattered with red flower petals. Behind it, a deity murti is decorated with white and orange flower garlands, with brass lamps beside it. Three men in white dhotis and white-and-gold headcloths sit in the foreground: one at left with hands folded in prayer, one at centre facing the fire with his back to the camera, and one at right seated on an ornate gold throne-like chair with his eyes closed and hands together, wearing a white garland and a beaded necklace. Gold pillars and red and gold drapes frame the scene.2025-12-30Photograph of a homa fire ritual in a golden-draped ceremonial space. A brick fire pit with a large orange flame sits at centre, its altar strewn with red flower petals. Behind it, a red-and-gold backdrop frames a deity murti within a blue niche, flanked by garlanded kalasha-style pots, brass lamps and flowers. Two priests sit beside the fire: the one on the left wears a white head cloth, bare chest with white markings, and beaded necklaces; the one on the right wears a white head cloth, white dhoti with a gold border, and necklaces, seated on a green cushion. A third figure in a red turban and white garland stands at the right edge beside a gold throne-like seat.2025-12-30A homa fire ritual inside a gold-pillared shrine hung with gold and red draped fabric. Fire blazes in a brick fire pit on a golden platform strewn with red flower petals. Three bare-chested priests in white dhotis and white-and-gold turbans are seated. The priest on the left has his palms pressed together in namaskar and wears a beaded necklace and white sacred markings on his body. The priest in the center has his back to the camera, turban wrapped, with a sacred thread. The priest on the right sits on a gold ornate throne with elephant motifs, holding a flower garland and wearing a beaded necklace. Behind the fire, a deity murti is decorated with green-and-yellow garlands and a white flower garland, flanked by brass lamps.2025-12-30A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a temple-style setting with gold-coloured pillars and draped gold and red fabric. In the foreground, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a white and gold-bordered head cloth sits at a low altar-like platform, facing the fire. A second priest in a white head cloth sits at left, applying offerings with his hands near the platform. A third person on the right wears a white head cloth, garlands and gold necklaces, seated on an ornate gold throne-like seat. A bright fire burns in a brick fire pit in the centre, surrounded by red flower petals scattered on the platform, and a deity murti adorned with garlands stands in the background shrine.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.2025-12-30A photograph of a gold-pillared homa altar with a large fire burning in a sunken fire pit at the centre. Three men in white dhotis and white head cloths sit around it: at left a priest reaches to a brass bowl of black sesame seeds and an assistant beside him tends a bowl, and at right a bare-chested priest with gold chains and white sacred markings on his chest sits cross-legged near the fire. Red flower petals are scattered on the altar's steps. Behind the fire, a red and gold draped canopy frames a garlanded deity murti seated on a throne at far right, with a white and red floral garland on the figure and kumkum on its forehead. A brass oil lamp and offerings sit on a red-draped table with flower arrangements.2025-12-30A homa fire ritual inside a golden-pillared shrine draped with gold cloth. A fire burns in a brick-lined fire pit on a raised mud platform scattered with red flower petals. Behind it stand three decorated deity murti garlanded with white and red flowers, with brass oil lamps on either side. On the left, a bare-chested priest with white and orange head cloth and beaded necklaces sits facing the fire. On the right, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and orange-bordered cloth with a white head wrap and long beaded mala sits on a green-cushioned seat beside a brass vessel. Another figure in a red turban and red and white garland stands at the far right near a golden throne-like seat.2025-12-30A homa fire ritual inside a golden-canopied shrine. A bright fire burns in a brick-lined fire pit on an orange-plastered altar, scattered with red flower petals and marked with pale lines. Two shirtless priests in white dhotis and white and gold head-cloths sit on either side: the left priest, with white markings on his chest and arms, holds a brass bowl, and the right priest, with a beaded necklace, makes offerings. Behind the fire, a deity murti is adorned with garlands and stands on a flower-decorated altar with brass lamps. A gilded throne-like seat with a standing figure in a red turban and pink dress with a garland stands at the right edge.2025-12-30A photograph of a sacred fire ritual (homa) in a gold-decorated shrine. A large flame rises from a clay fire pit covered with red flower petals and a white thread. On the left, a bare-chested priest with a white and orange-striped headcloth and white body markings leans toward the fire. On the right, a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and a gold necklace sits on a green cushion, and a person in a red garment and white garland sits on a gold throne behind him. Behind the fire, two decorated masks with white and red garlands sit on a red-draped altar with brass lamps and a golden backdrop.2025-12-30A homa fire ritual inside a gold-pillared, draped pavilion. Two priests in white dhotis with gold-bordered shawls and gold-striped cloth perform the ritual. The left priest, bare-chested with a gold necklace and wearing a white head cloth, holds a brass plate of offerings. The priest in the foreground, also bare-chested with white ash markings on his arms and chest and a rudraksha bracelet, holds a sprig or implement over the fire. A raised altar pit burns with a flame, decorated with fresh flowers, garlands, and a white cloth-covered object. A deity murti with a blue backdrop sits behind the altar. On the right, a seated figure in a red and white garland sits on a golden throne beside a green-draped table with flower offerings and a brass lamp.2025-12-30A homa fire ritual in an open-sided pavilion with bamboo pillars and a golden decorated backdrop. In the centre a large fire burns in a clay fire pit, and a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti and white turban sits in front, holding a metal plate of offerings toward the flames. Behind the fire sits a second man, bare-chested with a white turban and rudraksha beads, and a figure in a red and gold turban is seated before a golden throne-like backdrop, adorned with white and red flower garlands. To the left, brass lamps, a kalasha-like brass vessel, orange and yellow marigold offerings, and a red cloth-draped altar with white flower garlands are arranged. A banana-filled backdrop appears at right, and a third priest in white sits at the right edge. The scene centres on a Sudarshan homa performed with offerings.2025-12-30