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Night photograph of a homa fire ritual. A young shaved-headed priest in saffron-orange robes with a white tilak on his forehead and a gold-beaded necklace stands on a raised platform holding a metal tray with a white cloth bundle that is burning with flames. Beside him an assistant in white clothes with an orange shawl holds a long pole. A sunken square fire pit lined with marigold garlands and a yellow-and-white rangoli border lies in front, with a brass vessel and offerings nearby. A seated crowd in white garments watches from behind, with smoke rising into the dark sky.

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Night photograph of a fire ritual (homa or yagna) at a raised yellow-washed square fire pit decorated with white and yellow flower garlands. A standing man in an orange saffron robe and orange head wrap, with a white tilak on his forehead, holds a flaming ritual vessel or tray with a burning cloth bundle near his chest. Beside him a younger man in white clothes holds a microphone. Seated devotees in white clothes and an orange-scarfed young man with a rudraksha mala watch from the ground in front of a large crowd in the dark background. Brass pots and a metal bowl sit on the platform edge.2007-02-11September 25 20092009-09-25 +1 copiesA homa ritual under an orange and green decorated canopy at night. A standing man in orange robes with a hood and a beaded necklace presses his palms together at the right of a square fire pit (homa kund) with smoke rising, flower garlands and marigold petals around its edge. Seated devotees in orange and red garments surround the pit, some with brass bowls and offerings. Behind them, a framed portrait labelled 'Paramahamsa Nithyananda' is garlanded with flowers. Men in white with yellow shawls stand at the right and lower right, and banana plants and leaf festoons decorate the tent. A brass vessel with flowers sits in the lower left.2009-09-25Night-time fire ritual at a temple-style outdoor setting with smoke rising. A central figure in saffron-orange robes and an orange head wrap holds a lit aarti lamp toward a decorated arch and altar. Beside him a man in white dhoti and shirt holds a long staff and watches. Seated devotees in white and a few in dark clothes sit before a yellow-bordered square homa fire pit surrounded by marigold and flower garlands. Behind the altar, a large framed portrait and a deity figure in orange hang with floral garlands, with a trident and ceremonial umbrellas nearby. The scene suggests an evening arati with fire offering. The orange-robed figure's identity is uncertain from appearance; the portrait behind carries a caption only partly visible.2007-02-11February 11 20072007-02-11A night fire ritual under a canopy decorated with orange and green festoons and banana leaves. A shaved-headed man in orange robes stands at right holding a silver plate with a flame, facing a square fire pit covered with white cloth, marigold garlands and yellow flower petals. Smoke rises from the pit. Other people in orange and saffron clothing sit cross-legged around it, one with hands folded in prayer at left. Brass vessels with fruit, flowers and yellow rice offerings sit on banana leaves, and a framed portrait garlanded with flowers stands in the background. Several seated attendees in yellow shirts sit at lower right near a red-and-gold book. This depicts a homa, a fire offering ritual.2009-09-25A shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes with a red-and-gold border stands at night under a canopy of orange, green and leafy decorations, holding a metal plate of burning camphor flame with red and yellow flowers. He wears a long beaded gold-and-white necklace and gold bangles. Around him seated devotees in white clothes with yellow shawls press their palms together, and some hold small oil lamps. In the foreground a woman's head is visible, and a decorated white basket with banana leaves and flowers sits at right. Smoke drifts across the scene, indicating an aarti ceremony during a chandi homa.2009-09-25Night ritual homa at an open-air outdoor setting. Two shaven-headed priests in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls stand at a fire pit; the front priest holds a bell and a metal vessel with a large flame aloft, wearing a rudraksha-style mala and gold-toned arm bands. The fire pit is built of brick-like blocks decorated with marigold petals and banana leaves, with brass bowls of offerings and a kalasha-like vessel in front. Behind them a large seated crowd, mostly in white, presses palms together in prayer under strings of lights. A cameraman on a tripod films the scene, and a pink cloth-draped shrine stands at the right edge.2011-11-10November 24 20062006-11-24November 10 20112011-11-10November 10 20112011-11-10February 11 20072007-02-11