Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night outdoor homa under a canopy decorated with red, orange and green streamers and marigold garlands. In the foreground a man in an orange-brown robe, seen from behind, holds a ritual vessel over a fire pit where a fire burns on a yellow-tiled base with brass bowls and offerings. Behind him a gilded throne is backed by a red cloth; a seated figure in orange robes sits on it, with a large garlanded deity murti beside and a decorated image of a goddess with multiple arms and a lion mount on the left. Brass oil lamps, a banana plant, a microphone and a speaker surround the setting, with a plate of flowers on the right.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of an outdoor-style tent shrine during a fire ritual. A priest in a rust-brown dhoti stands at left, his back to the camera, holding a ladle or spoon over a burning homa fire pit at lower centre, with flames rising. Behind the fire, a seated figure in a rust-brown robe sits on an ornate gold throne with yellow and red cushions, in front of a red draped backdrop. Garlanded deity murtis flank the throne area, including a large framed goddess image with multiple arms at upper left. Marigold garlands hang across the altar, brass kalashas, lamps and offering bowls surround the fire, and banana plants and green-and-red bunting decorate the tent. Two small children sit at far left.2012-10-17A night-time homa at a decorated open-sided tent shrine. In the foreground a standing priest in a saffron-orange dhoti and wrap holds up a tall multi-tier brass aarti lamp with lit flames toward the altar. A large fire burns in a yellow-bordered fire pit surrounded by marigold garlands, brass bowls and fresh leaves. Behind, a painted deity murti of Goddess Durga riding a lion stands against a white-framed backdrop. A seated figure in a saffron-orange robe sits on an ornate gold throne with garlands. To the right, a deity murti is adorned with white flower garlands. Red and gold cloth drapes the ceiling and walls, and speakers and brass lamps stand on the stage. A seated figure in white is partly visible at left.2012-10-17October 17 20122012-10-17A seated man in saffron robes sits on an ornate golden throne at the back of a red-draped stage, flanked by golden floral garlands. In front, a sacred fire burns in a yellow-tiled fire pit with a large silver bowl and brass oil lamps nearby, indicating a homa. Along the left, a deity murti of a multi-armed goddess rides a lion against a white ornate arch, and on the right, standing deity statues in gold dress and garlands flank the scene. A red-and-gold canopy hangs overhead. No physical people other than the seated figure are clearly visible.2012-10-17A photograph of a ceremonial temple-style stage set for a homa fire ritual. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes sits on an ornate gold throne draped with yellow and orange marigold garlands, with a fire burning in front of the throne on a yellow platform. On the left stands a multi-armed goddess figure with a red-and-white backdrop, flanked by smaller deity figures and a lion mount. On the right, two standing deity murti wear orange and white garlands. Brass lamps and a metal bowl with a ladle sit in the foreground, and a red-and-white cloth with embroidery covers a table at left. Red and green bunting decorates the ceiling. a person appearance is uncertain: the seated figure wears saffron robes and a turban-like cap, but the figure is small and distant. Cues are insufficient for a confident identification.2012-10-17A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in front of a red-draped stage. In the foreground, a bright fire burns beside a brass vessel with a ladle and brass oil lamps. Behind the fire, marigold and yellow flower garlands drape over several deity murtis, including a multi-armed goddess with a trident and a lion, and a figure with an orange turban and rudraksha-style necklace. A seated man in orange-saffron robes and a rudraksha mala sits on a golden throne decorated with yellow and red flowers. His appearance is consistent with the candidate figure, so this is a person in person seated on the throne. Gold and white decorative arches frame the scene, and a microphone stands at the front.2012-10-17A temple-style tent set up for a homa ceremony, with red and gold draping and garlands. A bare-chested priest in an orange-brown dhoti and shawl raises a lit camphor aarti lamp toward the front. In the centre a seated figure in orange robes sits on an ornate gold throne with a floral backdrop; no clear visible cues establish identity, so the seated figure is a devotee-like person on a peetha. A fire pit burns in front, surrounded by fruits, flowers, brass vessels and kalasha pots. To the right stand decorated deity murti with garlands, and to the left a figure in white sits near a brass lamp.2012-10-17Night fire ritual under a decorated red and gold canopy. A man in saffron-orange robes and a bare chest stands at left holding a tiered brass aarti lamp with a flame toward a fire pit. In front of him a sacred fire blazes on a yellow block, with brass vessels, fruit, flowers, and banana leaves on the floor. Behind, a seated figure in orange garments with hands joined sits on a gold throne decorated with marigold garlands. Flanking the throne are a white-framed deity murti and another garlanded deity figure. A seated woman in white sits at left near a red cushioned seat. Strings of garlands hang from the canopy.2012-10-17October 17 20122012-10-17October 17 20122012-10-17A temple-style stage under a tented canopy decorated with orange, red and green fabric bands and marigold garlands. Centre stage, a figure in a rust-orange robe sits on a gilded throne with a yellow cushion, a garland draped over the throne back. Left, a white-and-silver framed deity murti of a multi-armed goddess stands on a lion. Right, a gold-framed deity murti is adorned with garlands. In the foreground, a priest in a pink dhoti and shawl stands at a brass-and-silver puja table with lamps, a bell, a pot and flower offerings. Another priest in orange robes with folded hands stands at the right edge, and an ornate kalasha and brass lamps are on the table.2012-10-16Outdoor evening ritual stage under a tented canopy with orange and green draped borders and marigold garlands. A standing priest in a pink-orange dhoti and shawl, bare-chested with a sacred thread, faces a raised golden throne-like seat where a seated figure in orange robes is present. Behind the throne, a deity murti of Durga-style goddess with lion and attendant figures is framed by a white floral arch, and a second golden shrine holds another garlanded deity murti. A man in orange clothing sits at right with hands folded in namaskar. Foreground holds brass bowls, kalasha-style vessels, plates of fruit and flowers, oil lamps and puja offerings on a yellow cloth.2012-10-16