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A temple courtyard during a homa fire ritual. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged on the floor behind a brick-lined square fire pit with wood sticks and offerings. Behind him, a red cloth covers a seat beside two ornately decorated deity murtis draped in marigold and multicolour flower garlands. Trays of fruit, bananas, coconut and a platter of offerings sit near the pit. Another man in white stands in the doorway and a woman in red sits at the back.

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December 23 20102010-12-23A priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a gold chain and bangle, sits cross-legged before a homa fire on a red cloth, performing a ritual at a shrine. Behind him, three deity murtis are decorated with garlands of red, orange, yellow and purple flowers; the central figure holds a trident. Above them, a seated figure in saffron robes with a turban sits on a gold throne, and a golden kalasha stands at the top. Brass oil lamps, bowls of grains, flowers, fruit and a red-and-gold bundle surround the offering area on the floor.2010-11-12December 14 20112011-12-14November 12 20102010-11-12December 23 20102010-12-23A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged before an oil lamp and a microphone, performing a pada puja at an outdoor shrine. Two ornately decorated deity murtis, a goddess and a god with crowns, gold jewellery and garlands of red, yellow and green flowers, sit on a bright red cloth draped over a stone platform. A carved stone pillar and orange curtain frame the scene, with a small kalasha and offerings on the floor.2011-12-14November 12 20102010-11-12Photograph of a homa/yagna ritual in a courtyard. In the centre, a young man in white dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged at a brick fire pit, hands folded in prayer, with a microphone stand before him. Beside him a bald priest in white with a gold-bead necklace sits, and a man in orange robes sits at left. Behind, several people in white and orange stand and sit near a red-and-white striped wall. To the right, a deity murti is dressed in an orange silk cloth and garlands of red, orange and white flowers, with a brass lamp beside it. Offerings of fruit, flowers, brass vessels and a kalasha-like bowl lie on the floor and tables.2010-11-12November 12 20102010-11-12December 14 20112011-12-14November 12 20102010-11-12A homa or fire ritual in a temple hall. A young priest in white dhoti and shawl with a gold-coloured sash sits behind a fire pit built of stacked yellow bricks, holding a flaming ladle over the kindling. A priest in white and red-bordered dhoti kneels at right beside a brass plate of offerings. Behind them, a standing man in an orange robe and a cameraman in white stand near a gold ornate throne-like chair with red cushion. On the right, several deity murtis are dressed with white and orange garlands, with brass kalasha pots holding coconut and mango leaves on a pink cloth. A seated man and other devotees sit in the background. A woman with dark hair in the lower left foreground has hands folded in prayer.2010-12-23