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Night-time outdoor homa at a temple courtyard: a large fire burns in a square, flower-garlanded fire pit (kund) with marigold and red flower garlands around its rim. Several priests in white dhotis and shawls stand around the pit; one bare-chested priest in an orange-yellow dhoti holds a ritual vessel and another in white performs offerings, while one with folded hands stands nearby. A bare-chested man with folded hands and a shaved head stands at right beside a golden-framed deity murti decorated with flower garlands on a red-draped platform. Fruits, coconuts, brass plates and kalasha-type vessels are arranged on the ground, with scaffolding and pillars behind. No one visible with distinctive a person cues is identifiable from appearance, so no candidate is marked.

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Night-time homa at an outdoor temple courtyard. Several priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies stand around raised stone fire pits, one with a large flame. A priest in a yellow-and-white dhoti holds a ladle or offering over the central fire, while another with folded hands stands beside him. On the right, a golden deity murti or ornate image is decorated with red and yellow flower garlands, with fruits, coconuts and brass vessels arranged on a red-draped table. Marigold garlands line the fire platforms. Scaffolding and pillars frame the background, and a lit shrine is visible at left.2018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02Night-time homa ritual in an open-air temple courtyard with a shallow fire pit in the foreground, ringed with marigold garlands and red flower petals. Several shirtless priests in white dhotis with yellow borders stand around the flames; one holds a small brass vessel and another raises a tapered ritual implement, while a third has hands folded in namaskar. To the far right an older man in a blue-bordered white dhoti tends a table draped in red and covered with flowers and fruit. Behind the fire, a shrine on the left holds a colourful deity murti framed by a decorated arch, and white scaffolding and pillars line the hall. Offering plates, a brass lamp, and a yellow cloth bundle sit on the ground.2018-03-02Night-time outdoor homa at a temple-style setting. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a yellow-bordered cloth sits beside a flaming fire pit ringed with marigold and red flower garlands, pouring an offering from a small steel bowl. Behind him another priest in white dhoti and gold-bordered cloth stands tending the ceremony, and a third figure kneels at a second fire pit further back. A red-draped table holds flowers and petals, and fruit and brass vessels sit on the ground. Scaffolding and red curtains frame the scene.2018-03-02Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion. In the foreground a large fire burns in a tiered yagna kunda decorated with marigold garlands and red kumkum. Behind it a priest in white dhoti with a saffron-and-gold shawl holds a vessel over the flames and offers oblations, while a second priest in cream dhoti with a gold border holds a bundle of kusha grass beside him. At right a man in a saffron dhoti with a red rudraksha mala and bare chest, hands folded in anjali, stands by a table of flowers and offerings. Behind them more white-clad priests tend additional fire pits under bamboo-supported roofing, with a deity shrine lit at the back. Coconuts, flowers and brass pots sit on the ground.2018-03-02December 07 20162016-12-07Night outdoor ritual at a temple courtyard. In the foreground a tiered stone homa or fire pit is decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands, scattered red kumkum and white flower petals, with brass vessels and offerings of bananas and fruit. Behind it, a priest bare-chested in a yellow dhoti holds a flame-like offering up with both hands while a second priest in white dhoti and a bare upper body with rudraksha-style beads stands nearby, and a third man in a red and white cloth assists. Brass lamps, a golden kalasha-type vessel and red-draped tables hold flowers and offerings. In the background a shrine with decorated deity murtis and white bulls stands under lights. People visible: four.2018-03-02A night-time puja at an outdoor ritual platform under a bamboo-scaffolded structure. A bald priest in white dhoti with orange shawl and rudraksha mala leans forward, lighting a brass aarti lamp before a golden deity murti decorated with red and white flowers and garlands. Behind him, several priests in white dhotis stand with hands folded or holding ritual objects, one in a blue-bordered dhoti at right. A man in orange robes kneels with hands joined at left. Offerings of fruit, flowers and brass vessels line the foreground steps and altar. Yellow marigold garlands decorate the stone steps, and red cloth covers the altar table. Approximately six people are visible.2018-03-02A homa fire ritual at night. A square brick fire pit blazes at the centre, with tall flames rising from it. Several priests in white dhotis and white shawls with red borders sit cross-legged around the pit, one holding a ladle and one offering into the fire. A bowl of ghee sits on the pit's edge beside silver trays of flowers, nuts and offerings. On the left, a deity murti is adorned with red and white flower garlands, and brass oil lamps stand nearby. Hands of devotees reach in from the frame edges.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor homa at an ashram courtyard. A brick fire pit with lit flames sits on a white stepped stone platform scattered with flower petals. A woman in white with a yellow head wrap bends forward pouring an offering from a metal bowl into the fire. Beside her a bald man in white with a red-and-yellow cloth and rudraksha-style beads holds a brass bowl of red flowers. Behind them a standing man in white with a gold chain and beads holds a ritual vessel, and a woman in white with a yellow shawl stands further back. Seated devotees in white line the left side. A large carved wooden drum-like object and brass lamps with oil flames sit to the right, with a garland of red flowers near a brass vessel. Decorated painted pillars and leafy garlands frame the scene.2010-10-16 +2 copiesNight photo of a homa fire ritual at an open temple courtyard. In the centre, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a gold-and-saffron cloth draped over the shoulder holds a silver vessel with a coconut and fruit toward a stone fire pit with bright flames and flower garlands. Beside him, another priest in a white dhoti with yellow borders holds ritual items and performs the offering. At right, a priest with folded palms wears red beads and a yellow-and-blue dhoti. Brass pots, marigold garlands and red offerings lie around the fire, and a shrine with deity murti and wooden pillars with bamboo scaffolding stands behind. Several more priests in white are visible at left.2018-03-02Night-time temple ritual with smoke rising from a central ceremonial fire pit or homa area surrounded by flower-decked offerings and brass vessels. Four men stand around the altar: on the left a bare-chested man in a red and blue dhoti holds his hands together, a man in a white dhoti and shawl stands centre-left, another in a white dhoti with a sacred thread stands centre-right, and a bare-chested man in a yellow dhoti stands at the far right. Marigold garlands and red flowers decorate the altars, a gilded arch frames the scene, and scaffolding is visible behind the structure. The atmosphere is one of priestly worship with lamps and offerings.2018-03-02