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A night-time ritual in a decorated pavilion with a tiered golden fire platform at center, from which a tall flame rises. A man with a shaved head and a tilak, wearing an orange cloth, stands at the fire pouring an offering from a bowl. To the left, a man in orange robes with a microphone sits before an ornate silver-and-gold seat. Behind the fire, a golden arched shrine holds a deity murti adorned with garlands. Strings of yellow marigold garlands hang across the ceiling, with small lamps and a banana plant nearby. Striped mats cover the floor, and a silver plate with white offerings sits in the foreground. A figure in a turban and gold necklace sits to the right beside a decorated shrine. The scene suggests a homa with a fire offering.

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A night homa in a decorated temple-style pavilion. In the foreground, a priest with long dark hair, white tilak and orange cloth holds a microphone while seated on a low dais. Beside him, a second priest with matted hair and a bare upper body pours an offering into a blazing fire pit set on a tiered golden platform. Behind them, a golden peetha displays deity murtis garlanded with yellow marigolds and red flowers, and a seated figure in a decorated frame sits to the right. Yellow marigold garlands hang from the ceiling, banana plants frame the scene, and striped mats cover the floor. Brass vessels and a tray of offerings sit at the lower left.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19Night-time ritual in a open-sided pavilion with a striped rug floor. A wooden square fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground surrounded by white flower petals and small offering trays of fruit and sweets. Behind it, several men in orange and saffron dhotis stand near decorated shrines draped with yellow and orange marigold garlands, a banana plant, and a brass lamp stand. A standing priest in an orange dhoti and bare upper body holds a ritual implement near the fire. A seated figure in a brown robe with a garland sits on an ornate gilded throne with a canopy. A decorated deity murti stands in a shrine on the right, adorned with flower garlands. The scene suggests a homa or yagna ceremony.2016-12-19A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a covered hall at night. A fire burns in a raised golden fire pit in the foreground, with offerings and a brass bowl of flowers nearby. A man in an orange dhoti and shawl stands at the left holding a microphone on a stand, while a seated man in a brown robe with a purple garland sits on an ornate golden-and-black throne behind him. On the right, a deity murti decorated with yellow and white garlands sits in a golden shrine arch, and a banana plant, a yellow flower garland strung across the ceiling, and hanging lamps complete the setting. A colourful striped mat covers the floor. Several people in orange and white attire stand near the shrine.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19A night-time temple-style ritual in a canopied hall. A fire pit with a burning flame sits centre stage on a stepped golden platform. Around it, several priests in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls, with rudraksha malas, perform the rites, one holding a small object near the fire. A decorated deity murti stands on a garlanded altar at right, with marigold and yellow flower garlands, banana plants and a kalasha-like arrangement nearby. Striped multicolour cloths cover the floor, with brass plates of offerings, flowers and a basket of petals in front. A man in white and a bare-chested priest stand at right, with the homa setting dominated by yellow marigold garlands overhead.2016-12-19Night ritual photograph in a covered pavilion with a red-and-striped mat stage. In the foreground, several priests in saffron and orange dhotis, some bare-chested and wearing garlands, sit before a fire pit where flames rise and an attendant pours or tends the offering. Behind them, decorated altar arches framed in gold hold deity murtis and ornate statues garlanded with yellow and orange flowers, with banana plants and a marigold canopy overhead. Bronze and brass puja vessels, banana-leaf and plantain offerings, flower baskets and a bowl of white food sit on the mat. On the right, a few seated devotees and attendants in white and dark clothing watch, and a small group of bystanders is at the lower right edge. The scene suggests a homa or pooja ceremony.2016-12-19A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a decorated pandal with a striped multicolour cloth floor. A square golden fire pit with a rising flame sits in the foreground with offerings and brass vessels nearby. Three young priests with bare upper bodies, orange cloths and rudraksha necklaces sit at left, one tending the fire. Behind them a large ornate golden throne with a cobra-hood canopy and yellow marigold garlands stands empty of any clearly identifiable figure, and a deity murti draped in garlands sits on a golden seat at centre. At right a gold-framed shrine holds a murti adorned with flower garlands. Banana plants and hanging lamps decorate the hall.2016-12-19February 02 20162016-02-02December 19 20162016-12-19February 02 20162016-02-02A night-time homa at a covered outdoor pavilion hung with yellow marigold garlands and small oil lamps. In the centre a rectangular golden fire pit burns with tall flames, surrounded by brass plates of offerings. A bare-chested priest in an orange dhoti stands at left holding a ritual item, and another orange-clad attendant stands near the fire. Behind, a seated figure in white with a red-and-white garland sits before an ornate silver-and-gold heart-shaped throne-arch decorated with yellow flowers. At right, a richly garlanded deity murti sits in a golden shrine with a crown and flower garlands, and a striped multicoloured mat covers the floor. Several people in orange and white clothing are visible in the background.2016-12-19