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Night outdoor ritual at an ashram shrine. Dozens of devotees in white clothes sit on the ground before red trays holding small oil lamps, ash and offerings. Many wear white saris or white shirts, one woman in the foreground wears a green-bordered white sari, and a boy in a red shirt sits among them. Behind them stands a white shrine with a dark linga draped in marigold garlands, and a tall ornate kalasha-topped structure with yellow garlands rises at right. A smoky haze hangs in the air and a painted board with photographs stands at left.

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December 30 20092009-12-30A large outdoor evening homa gathering at an ashram courtyard. Rows of seated devotees, mostly women in white clothes, sit with palms pressed together before red rectangular fire trays holding burning wood and offerings, with brass plates of flowers and oil lamps beside them. In the background a white-pillared shrine with a dark deity murti draped in garlands stands under a lit tent. Several seated participants wear saffron or pink saris and blue tops. The count of visible seated people is large.2009-12-30Evening outdoor homa-style ceremony at night with a large crowd of devotees seated on the ground in rows, many in white ritual clothes, some in pink, green and saree tones, hands joined in prayer. Red trays and small oil lamps with offerings sit before them, and smoke rises in the air. In the background a deity murti and a decorated kalasha or shrine structure stand on white pedestals with floral garlands, lit by lamps. The crowd appears well over twenty and. No clearly identifiable a person is visible among the seated devotees; the front figures are attendees, not a presiding figure.2009-12-30December 30 20092009-12-30December 30 20092009-12-30Night photo of a homa or fire ritual in an open courtyard. Rows of devotees sit on the ground before many low red rectangular fire pits (kundas) with small flames and offerings on plates. Most people wear white clothing; some women wear saffron-yellow, pink or blue saris, and a woman in the foreground wears a cream sari. At the far end, a priest in orange-saffron robes stands behind a long white-and-red striped altar platform with offering trays and a flower garland, while other white-clad attendants stand beside him. Hanging string lights and a small lit shrine appear in the background.2009-12-30December 30 20092009-12-30December 30 20092009-12-30Night photo of a large outdoor ritual gathering at an ashram courtyard. Dozens of people in white clothing, including women in white saris and men in white shirts, sit on the ground in rows behind red trays holding oil lamps, small plates and offerings. A saffron-robed figure stands at a raised white and red striped platform, with a framed portrait and a deity image beside them, facing the assembly. Strings of fairy lights decorate the white building behind, and smoke rises near the platform. Several participants are visible in the foreground, while the rear rows are partly obscured. Overall a group puja or aarti with oil lamps.2009-12-30Evening outdoor puja in an ashram courtyard. Many devotees sit on the ground in rows, mostly women and some men, wearing white ritual clothes, with a child in pink and another in green and blue. Small red-rimmed trays holding oil lamps glow in front of them, and several people have their palms pressed together in prayer. Behind them stands a large black Shiva lingam decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands on a white pedestal, with a white painted shrine structure to the left. A white van and banners are visible in the background.2009-12-30Night outdoor fire ritual with many devotees in white clothes seated in rows on the ground before small red-brown trays holding burning fire pits and offering bowls. Women wear white saris with gold borders and white head cloths; some wear blue or orange shawls and beaded necklaces. A white ornamental structure and a tall decorated pillar stand behind them, and a decorated yellow vehicle with painted deity images and a portrait panel sits at the right. This appears to be a homa or fire offering. Roughly fifty people are visible.2009-12-30Night photograph of a large outdoor ritual gathering in which many devotees sit in rows on the ground before red rectangular fire trays, each holding a small flame with offerings and plates of fruit and food nearby. Most participants wear white clothing, with women in white saris and some in blue, pink and orange garments. In the background, a figure in an orange robe sits behind a long table draped with red and white striped cloth, which holds trays of food, flowers and yellow items, while others in white stand nearby. Strings of coloured lights are visible at the top right.2009-12-30