Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A homa fire ceremony in a red-walled temple hall. At centre, a fire burns in a brick-built fire pit with offerings of white and red flower-decorated cakes and ghee. A priest in white dhoti with a red turban and red waist cloth, bare-chested and wearing a gold chain, sits behind the pit pouring ghee from a bowl with a ladle. To the right, a seated man in a yellow shawl and white dhoti and a woman in white sari with a garland tend lamps and offerings. Behind, a woman in white sari with folded hands and other white-clad devotees stand in a wooden doorway. Brass pots, a kalasha, coconuts and banana leaves lie on mats in the foreground.

More like this

Open the gallery
A homa fire ritual in a red-walled hall with a carved wooden doorway. A bare-chested priest in a pink turban and pink cloth, with white sacred ash marks and layered gold-toned necklaces, sits cross-legged at a brick fire pit where a bright flame burns over offerings of flowers and fruit. He holds a ladle over a silver bowl of liquid. Across the pit, a young man in a yellow shawl and white dhoti sits beside a brass oil lamp, and another seated man in white with a rudraksha-style necklace watches. Several women in white saris stand near the doorway, and a few other seated devotees sit along the walls. Brass vessels, a pot of rice, leaves and flower garlands are arranged on striped mats.2016-04-10August 05 20162016-08-05A homa fire ceremony is underway on a brick-built fire altar at the entrance of a red-walled hall. A priest in a pink-and-purple turban and white dhoti, wearing a rudraksha-style necklace, pours offerings into the flames with a ladle while a bronze bowl and brass vessels sit nearby. Another priest in white with orange shawl and gold necklaces stands at the right, and seated priests in white dhotis and beaded necklaces sit on striped rugs. A young boy in red robes with hands folded and several white-clad devotees walk through the doorway behind the fire. Flower garlands, banana leaves, brass lamps and fruit surround the altar.2016-03-28A homa fire ceremony in a red-walled hall. A priest seated at left, bare-chested with white dhoti, rudraksha-style garland and a pink-and-red turban, pours offerings with a long ladle into a brick fire pit. Two seated men beside the pit wear white dhotis and garlands, and marigold garlands and flowers decorate the altar. A standing figure in orange robes and a woman in a white sari stand in the doorway with others in white behind them. A brass vessel and a kalasha with flowers sit before the fire.2016-08-05A homa fire burns in a brick fire pit on a floor covered with striped mats, while three priests sit cross-legged around it. The priest at left wears a pink and purple turban, bare-chested with orange-beaded necklaces, and tends the fire with a basket of offerings. Two priests at right, one with white sacred ash marks on the forehead and rudraksha necklaces, sit bare-chested in white dhotis and tend the flames. Behind them, several people in white and orange garments stand in a doorway with carved wooden frames. Marigold garlands, brass vessels and a basket of offerings surround the fire.2016-08-05April 10 20162016-04-10A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a red-walled hall at night. In the centre a large square fire pit blazes, surrounded by offering trays, marigold garlands and yellow-wrapped packets. A bare-chested priest in a red and white cloth with a pink headcloth and a gold-toned necklace kneels by the fire holding a ladle. Opposite him a woman in a yellow shawl sits on the striped mat. Behind them men in white dhotis and shirts stand near an open doorway, and women in white saris stand at the door. Brass vessels, a kalasha and a small oil lamp sit on the floor.2016-04-10April 10 20162016-04-10April 10 20162016-04-10June 19 20162016-06-19A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a temple-like hall with dark red walls and carved wooden doorframes. A large flame rises from a brick-built fire pit at centre, surrounded by flower garlands, fruits, a brass vessel and a kalasha with a white cloth. A priest on the left wears a pink-and-gold turban, bare chest, rudraksha-style beaded garland and white dhoti, holding a ladle. Two young men sit on the right, one bare-chested with a white dhoti and garland, the other in a white dhoti with an orange garland. Standing in the doorway, a man in white kurta and dhoti with hands in añjali mudra faces the fire, while a man in orange dhoti stands beside him. Offerings and a brass plate with fruits and flowers lie in the foreground. Four people are visible plus a partly seen figure at the doorway, making several people in total.2016-08-05 +1 copiesApril 10 20162016-04-10