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Night-time Hindu fire ritual outdoors in a temple courtyard. Several priests in white dhotis and shawls perform a homa at multiple square fire pits edged with marigold garlands and red flower petals. A seated priest in the foreground with a bare chest, rudraksha mala and white shawl holds a ladle near a small brass vessel. A bare-chested man in a yellow and blue striped cloth at right holds his hands together. Behind, a shrine displays a deity murti under a decorated arch, with red curtains and kalasha-style offerings on a red-draped table. Coconuts, fruit and brass plates sit on the stone platforms.

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Night-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 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.2018-03-02Night-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 outdoor homa or yagna at a temple courtyard. Several priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies tend a square fire pit with a flame, ringed by marigold garlands and red flower decorations. One priest in the foreground wears a rudraksha mala and holds a brass bowl, while another behind him pours or stirs near the fire. Brass plates, banana leaves, fruit and offerings sit on the ground. Behind them, a deity murti in a shrine with lit lamps and a painted backdrop, and a gold-framed deity image with flower garlands sits on a red-draped platform at right. Scaffolding frames a building under construction.2018-03-02Night-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.2018-03-02Night-time outdoor homa or yagna at a temple courtyard with a shrine behind. Several men in white dhotis and bare upper bodies perform rituals around stone fire pits decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands and red flower petals. A seated man in the centre pours or presses ritual material at the pit, while others stand nearby holding brass vessels, coconuts and bundles of leaves. Behind them a shrine holds a deity murti decorated with flowers and a red curtain, and a row of stone lamps and a red-draped table with fruit sit on the right beside scaffolding.2018-03-02A photograph of a homa or yagna at a temple hall, with a sacred fire burning in a brick fire pit on a red floor. Priests in white dhotis with gold borders stand around the fire; the central priest wears a red and gold turban and pours an offering from a brass vessel, and another wears a red shawl. Garlands of marigolds and flowers decorate the altar, and brass kalasha pots and oil lamps sit nearby. A golden ornate parasol stands in the background beside a heart-shaped floral arch. Seated at left, a man with long dark hair, a flower garland and a saffron cloth is in the ritual setting, with a person candidate identified by long hair, saffron clothing and rudraksha-style adornments.2018-04-14March 02 20182018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02A photograph of a homa fire ceremony inside a hall with a red carpet and marigold garlands strung overhead. In the centre, a priest in a white dhoti with a yellow border and a red-and-gold headcloth pours liquid from a brass vessel beside a fire pit lit with burning logs. Another priest in white stands to the right holding offerings near the flames. Rows of fruit, flowers, coconuts and brass pots sit on a tiered platform in front. Behind, a few seated men and women in saffron, purple and white garments watch; a gilded umbrella, an ornate golden heart-shaped decorative frame and red canopies complete the setting.2018-04-14April 14 20182018-04-14