Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night-time photograph of a Navaratri homa at an open-sided temple pavilion. A man with long dark hair and a white flower garland sits on an ornate silver throne upholstered with tiger-striped cushions, a flame rising from a fire pit before him. Beside him stand two painted deity murtis, one in yellow sari-like dress and one in blue with a crown and raised staff. Brass oil lamps, flower offerings, and silver-upholstered seats surround the fire. Two people in orange and white ritual clothing stand at the edges, one holding a brass vessel and another holding a white cloth. Colourful striped mats cover the floor and ceiling lights and a fan are visible.

More like this

Open the gallery
September 21 20172017-09-21 +1 copiesA night-time homa at an open-sided temple hall. A large fire burns in a sunken square pit in front of an ornate silver-and-gold throne with a silver canopy. A seated figure in orange-red robes with a long garland sits on the throne, hands near the flames. To the left stand two painted deity murtis in gold and yellow garments, one holding a trident-like staff, with a decorated arch of small figures behind them. A brass lamp stand and flower garlands lie near the fire. On the right, a standing priest in red-orange cloth holds a tray and a ritual implement. A small pedestal fan and a bright floodlight are visible overhead.2017-09-21Night ritual inside an open-sided temple hall at Adi Kailaasa, with a sacred fire burning in a square homa pit in the foreground. A seated figure in a red-brown garment and yellow-and-white flower garland sits on an ornate silver and gold throne with a silver canopy, a deity murti-style presentation. To the left stand two gold-and-yellow decorated deity statues, one holding a veena-like instrument. On the right, a man in a reddish-orange dhoti and a rudraksha mala bares his upper body and raises a ritual implement toward the fire during the puja. Brass oil lamps, flower garlands and banana leaves surround the scene, and a stage light glares overhead.2017-09-21 +1 copiesEvening Navaratri puja in a covered temple pavilion. A seated man on an ornate silver throne wears a red-brown cloth, a white and yellow flower garland and a tilak, with a silver umbrella canopy above him. To his left stand two painted deity murtis, one in yellow and green with a crown and raised hand, and one in blue and gold. In front, a square fire pit burns with offerings and brass lamps on the floor. A standing man in orange robes, shirtless on his back, holds an offering bundle at right, and another man in white dhoti stands behind. Floral garlands, colourful striped mats and silver chairs fill the scene.2017-09-21 +1 copiesA photograph of a nighttime homa at an open-sided pavilion. A tall fire blazes in a square fire pit in the foreground, with offerings and brass vessels around it. Behind it, a seated figure in orange-red clothing wears a garland and sits on an ornate silver and gold throne with a silver canopy. To the left stand two painted deity figures, one in yellow with a veena and one in blue-violet with a book, beside oil lamps and marigold garlands. On the right, a priest in a red-brown dhoti with a bare upper body and rudraksha beads pours from a vessel toward the fire. Floor cloths and a tiled ceiling complete the setting.2017-09-21Night temple scene at a fire ritual. A seated figure in a dark red garment with a long floral garland sits with palms joined in namaskar on an ornate silver-covered throne. A fire burns on a low platform in front, with offerings and brass lamps nearby. To the left stand two large colourful deity murtis in gold and yellow robes, one holding a sword and one a staff. A bare-backed attendant in orange cloth stands at right, facing the fire. Smoke rises and bright lights glare from the upper right. Garlands and yellow flowers decorate the altar.2017-09-21 +1 copiesNight photo of a temple-style ritual at an open-sided pavilion. A bare-chested man with a yellow-orange garland sits on an ornate silver throne with a silver umbrella canopy, his hands resting on a tiger-striped cloth. In front of him a large fire burns in a pit surrounded by brass oil lamps and flower offerings. To the left stand two painted deity murtis, one holding a veena, with garlands and marigolds at their feet. On the right a priest in orange-red dhoti and shawl, wearing a rudraksha mala, holds a ritual object toward the fire. Fans, banana leaves and string lights frame the setting.2017-09-21Photo of a night homa at an ornate temple hall with a large open fire pit in front. A seated figure on a silver-and-gold throne with a tiger-striped seat wears a marigold garland and a red-maroon garment, with a rudraksha-style mala visible and one hand raised in blessing. Beside the throne stand two gilded goddess murti figures, one with a raised hand and one holding a stick, plus garlands and brass lamps. A priest in saffron-orange dress on the right raises an arm, and another person in orange sits near the back. Festival-like decorations and a silver parasol above the throne frame the scene.2017-09-21 +1 copiesNight photograph of a Navaratri sandhi puja at an open-sided temple hall. A seated man in a red-brown dhoti with a long white and red garland sits on an ornate silver and gold throne before a sacred fire pit (homa) with bright flames and brass offering bowls. Beside him stand two large painted deity figures: a goddess in yellow and gold with a veena, and a male deity in blue-grey with a staff. A blue-skinned figure stands at the far left, and a kalasha-style silver umbrella canopy rises above the throne. A standing attendant in an orange robe is at the right edge, and a second figure in orange sits in the background. Lamps, flower garlands and a striped cloth complete the scene. The seated man's appearance is not clearly visible enough for a confident identification, so role is given without a name.2017-09-21A night-time homa at a covered temple hall with a large open fire pit in front of a richly decorated silver-and-gold throne. A seated man with long dark hair, wearing an orange shawl, a flower garland and a rudraksha-style mala, sits on the throne with his hand raised toward the flames; the appearance is consistent with a person but cues are not conclusive. To the right a priest in a dark orange dhoti stands bare-chested, holding a ritual item aloft. To the left stand two painted deity figures, one holding a veena and one with a stringed instrument, beside brass oil lamps and marigold garlands.2017-09-21September 21 20172017-09-21Night photograph of a temple shrine with a seated man in red-brown clothing and a yellow-and-red garland on an ornate silver throne with tiger-stripe cushions, beside a fire pit with a bright flame. Behind and to the left stand colourful deity statues, one female in yellow and gold sari-style dress holding a veena-like instrument, and a male figure in blue-white dress. Oil lamps, marigold and flower garlands, brass vessels and a silver sofa with leopard-print cushions surround the altar. On the right, a person in white dhoti and another in red stand near a tray. The scene reads as a Navaratri puja with homa at the Adi Kailaasa temple, with the seated figure presented as a person based on his saffron-red attire, long hair and ornate throne.2017-09-21