Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night ritual under a white tent hung with multicoloured string lights. At left, a priest with a yellow shawl and orange-gold cloth stands at a fire pit, holding a ritual implement toward the flames while a bare-chested assistant nearby holds an object. Next to him, a second priest in white dhoti with sacred thread stands beside a large fire pit decorated with marigolds. In the centre, a bald priest in white sits before a pink-draped platform holding a cobra-hooded deity murti garlanded with yellow and red flowers, with a kalasha and oil lamps. Behind him a decorated throne with a canopy is draped in orange and yellow garlands. Several other priests in white and bare-chested attendants participate in the homa and abhishekam.

More like this

Open the gallery
Night ritual photo of a homa or yagna at an open-air temple-style pavilion with a corrugated roof and string lights. A central fire pit blazes on a low wooden platform covered with a red cloth, surrounded by yellow marigold garlands and offering bowls. A seated figure with long dark hair and a white shawl sits behind the fire in a richly decorated setting, with a golden throne-like seat and a raised shrine above showing deity murti with garlands and banana plants flanking the stage. Several shirtless men in white dhotis sit on the platform and ground assisting, while a row of devotees in white and saffron clothes stands and watches from the sides. Some people hold cameras. Banana leaves, a golden palanquin-like canopy and a brass kalasha are visible at the edges.2016-12-02September 26 20172017-09-26December 02 20162016-12-02Night ritual at a temple courtyard with a decorated shrine behind, adorned with garlands and a canopy. In the center, a bald man in white dhoti with a white sacred thread, hands folded in namaskar, stands before a long wooden platform heaped with flowers, fruit, plantain leaves, brass lamps and bowls. Around him, shirtless priests in white dhotis sit or stand, some holding brass vessels and trays. A woman in a dark purple sari with a gold border stands near the shrine. A man in an orange shawl sits at right. Cameramen film the scene. Striped mats cover the ground.2016-12-12October 27 20142014-10-27August 22 20172017-08-22December 02 20162016-12-02A homa or yagna performed in a tented temple hall at night. A golden tiered fire pit with a bright flame sits at centre, surrounded by yellow marigold garlands and flower petals. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti kneels at the fire pit tending it, while another priest in white dhoti with a red and saffron cloth on his head pours offerings from a vessel. Several seated priests in white dhotis line the background, and a seated figure in red sits to the right. Silver ritual vessels, fruits and a plate of offerings lie on a striped cloth. Behind them are gilded shrine structures, deity images and hanging festive lamps with colourful tassels.2017-09-26 +1 copiesMarch 16 20172017-03-16December 15 20162016-12-15 +1 copiesA photograph of a homa or yagna at a temple hall. A fire burns in a brick fire pit decorated with marigold garlands on the left. Five men stand or kneel around it, most bare-chested in white dhotis with gold borders and gold necklaces; one kneeling man wears a purple-red turban and mala and tends the fire. On the right, a flower-decorated palanquin or deity canopy with marigold and jasmine garlands, pink and purple cloths, coconuts, brass vessels and a woven basket of offerings sits beside an orange-clad man with garlands who folds his hands. Strings of marigolds hang from the ceiling and red and paper lanterns decorate the hall. No candidate for a person is clearly visible.2018-04-14December 07 20162016-12-07