Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Evening outdoor ritual at night under a canopy of hanging green leaves and white flower-shaped decorations. A man in a white turban, white dhoti-style clothing and an orange shawl stands at centre, holding a small white cloth or flame-related object aloft in one hand. Behind and around him, many people in white clothes sit on the sand in rows, several with hands folded or raised, while small brick-built fire or offering platforms with red flowers and brass items lie in front of them. In the foreground at right, a young man in white with an orange shawl sits facing the scene, and a blue tarpaulin covers the lower left ground. Several people are visible in the background, and the setting appears to be an open ashram courtyard with buildings behind.

More like this

Open the gallery
A night ritual photograph at an outdoor homa or yagna site. A priest in white dhoti and a pale peach turban holds up a lit camphor flame on a brass aarti lamp, with smoke rising around him. Beside him, another priest in white bends over a fire pit with a large round wooden drum-like object and brass vessels. A third man in white with a rudraksha mala stands at right. A row of mango leaves is strung across the top. Seated devotees in white, some in yellow and orange, sit on white cloth at left, including several children. Brass plates, bells and offerings sit on the mat.2010-10-16Night photo of an outdoor fire ritual on a raised yellow platform with a square fire pit filled with ash and surrounded by white and yellow flower garlands. A man in a flowing orange-saffron robe, with a shaved head, a beaded necklace and a long wooden staff, stands at the back holding a silver fire vessel aloft with flames rising from it. Around him, white-clad men and women sit and stand, some with hands joined, and a line of seated devotees fills the background under dim lamps. Coloured canopy umbrellas and smoke frame the scene. Other people wear white dhotis, saris and shawls, with orange stoles on some.2007-02-11Night photo of a ritual in an open-sided tent hung with fringed festoons and plantain-leaf garlands. A standing priest in a white dhoti with a red-bordered shawl and a gold chain raises a lit oil lamp in one hand and holds a small bell in the other. Seated devotees in white and saffron clothing surround a low platform with brass plates, a brass oil lamp, flower petals, bowls and a kalasha-like vessel. Behind them is a red-and-gold throne bearing a framed portrait of a figure in orange robes, and a green-and-red sari-clad woman sits at left. The ritual appears to be a puja with aarti.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photograph of a homa fire ritual at an open-air ceremonial area. In the foreground a fire pit burns beside a carved wooden or stone yoni-style base and brass plates. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a tan turban holds a flaming lamp and a bell, while a shaved-headed priest in white with a red-bordered cloth and rudraksha mala holds a brass bowl. Behind them, shaved-headed priests in white clothes stand with palms pressed together, and a row of young boys in white with red scarves sits on the left. Green leaf garlands and a decorated pillar with colourful patterns frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 05 20112011-10-05October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesDecember 30 20092009-12-30Night outdoor fire ritual. A young man in white dhoti and shawl, with a tan head-wrap and orange-beaded necklaces, stands holding a lit oil lamp in one hand and a small bell in the other. Beside him a bald man in white dhoti with red border holds a silver vessel and wears a rudraksha mala. Seated and standing devotees in white, a few in orange and yellow, sit on white cloth at left with brass plates and offerings. A wooden carved disc and hanging leaf garland frame the scene, with smoke rising in the dark background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night-time homa at an outdoor ritual space lit by lamps, with a raised square fire pit of white-tiled steps where a bright flame burns and flower petals lie scattered. In the foreground, a bare-shouldered priest in white dhoti with a gold necklace faces the fire from behind. Standing near the pit, a woman in white sari with a yellow-orange head wrap and beaded necklaces raises her hand over the fire, while a man in white robes kneels beside a carved wooden stool. Behind them, a row of seated devotees in white and orange clothing fills the mat-covered ground, with garlanded green leaf torans overhead and a decorated seat with red and green fabric and brass lamps on the right.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOutdoor ritual under a large spreading tree. A standing man in a white turban, white shawl with gold border, and rudraksha mala holds up a lit multi-wick brass aarti lamp, smoke rising around him. Seated devotees in white and pastel saris fill the ground in rows, some with hands folded. In the foreground a seated man in white attends to the sacred fire area, and a small brass lamp and a bell sit on a low table with red flowers. Brass ritual vessels and a small figure of a deity sit on the ground to the left, and a stone platform holds more offerings at right.2005-03-08Night outdoor homa at an ashram. A square stone fire pit with a large blazing flame sits in the foreground, with petals scattered around it and a brass lamp and offering trays on a purple cloth at the right. A man in white ritual dress with a white head wrap and garlands holds up a burning vessel above the fire. Beside him a priest in white dhoti and shawl with a garland stands with hands folded, and another white-clad man stands at right. A woman in a white sari on the left side of the fire pit faces the flames. Seated devotees in white and orange-toned clothing fill the background, and hanging yellow leaf garlands and round hanging lanterns frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copies