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A shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti and shawl with gold trim sits cross-legged before a square white fire pit with a black interior, holding a silver vessel of flame aloft in his right hand. He wears a beaded necklace and bangles. Behind him, musicians with drums and wind instruments sit on a mat. Brass plates of offerings, including a bowl of yellow flowers and a silver vessel, rest on an orange cloth in the foreground. Orange walls, potted plants and a red-and-white striped border frame the courtyard.

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A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold trim sits cross-legged before a square fire pit at an outdoor ritual site, wearing a long rudraksha-style bead necklace and a forehead tilak. He holds a ladle over the flames while brass bowls of offerings, coconuts and yellow flowers lie on an orange cloth beside him. Behind him musicians play a drum and a wind instrument, and an assistant in white shirt watches. Red and white striped walls and green plants frame the courtyard.2011-12-17A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged beside a square fire pit, raising a lit oil lamp (aarti) in his right hand while holding a small brass bell in his left. He wears a gold pendant necklace, bead strands and bangles, with white and vertical tilaka marks on his forehead. Silver and brass offering bowls with flowers and a silver kalasha-style vessel sit on the white platform. Behind him, red-and-white striped walls, potted banana plants and a drummer in white shirt complete the ritual setting.2011-12-17December 16 20112011-12-16A photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open courtyard. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold borders and a gold necklace pours an offering from a small ladle into a square fire pit with glowing embers, while a metal bowl of offerings sits at its edge. A microphone stands beside him. Behind him, a man in white clothing sits and watches, and to the right another man wearing a gold necklace sits in white. In the background, several seated men in white play drums, and red-walled buildings and trees fill the setting.2011-12-31December 31 20112011-12-31A shaved-headed priest in a white dhoti and shawl with gold borders sits at a black fire pit, holding a ladle over a flame in a homa or yagna. A gold rudraksha-style mala hangs at his neck and he wears a bracelet. Brass bowls of offerings, yellow flowers, and a kalasha-like vessel sit on the stone ledge. Behind him, musicians play a flute and a drum, and a man in a white shirt and red-and-white lungi stands with hands folded. Orange-red walls and green foliage form the background.2011-12-17December 17 20112011-12-17A photograph of a homa fire ritual at an outdoor ashram courtyard. A young shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold beaded necklace lights an oil lamp held over a square homa pit lined with white stone. Beside him an older priest in white with gold necklace and glasses holds a small ritual vessel near a microphone stand. A woman in white sari sits in the background among metal offering bowls of turmeric, flowers and grains. Potted plants and an orange wall surround the scene.2011-12-31A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with yellow borders sits cross-legged before a black-and-white square fire pit, holding a silver arati lamp with flame and smoke rising as he performs a homa. Metal bowls of offerings, fruit and flowers sit on a platter in front. Behind him a man in white shirt and red-and-white cloth stands with a ritual instrument while seated women in white and yellow saris join hands in prayer beside potted banana plants and an orange wall with red-and-white striped pillars.2011-12-17December 17 20112011-12-17December 28 20112011-12-28A homa or fire ritual at an outdoor altar. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a bare chest, wearing a rudraksha mala and sacred ash on his forehead, holds a lit oil lamp over a metal bowl while speaking into a microphone and holding a brass bell in his other hand. A low white altar with a black top holds dried wood sticks, red flower petals, incense sticks and a small pot. Orange-clad and white-clad attendants sit behind him, and a man in grey stands at a trolley on the right. On the right, orange pumpkins decorated with white jasmine garlands and green leaves sit beside glass jars on a white cloth. Orange-painted walls and a leafy tree are in the background.2012-05-03