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Night photograph of a fire ritual, a homa, in an open outdoor setting. A large square fire pit blazes in the foreground, with flames and smoke rising. Behind it, a standing man in an orange-saffron dhoti and shawl wears a garland and holds a lit lamp, and a man in white dhoti beside him holds a ritual vessel. At the far right, a man in orange clothing and orange headwear holds a flame near brass items and fruit offerings. On the left, a man with his back to the camera in a brown robe with a red-and-white garland faces the fire, and a young boy in orange kneels with palms joined near the pit. Behind them a crowd of onlookers in white and orange stands in a loose group. Small brass and stone deity figures sit on the altar at right. The scene shows a ceremonial homa with several participants and a crowd of roughly twenty to thirty visible people.

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February 07 20162016-02-07Night outdoor homa at a fire pit: a bright flame and smoke rise from a raised stone fire altar in the foreground. A figure in a dark brown robe with a red-and-white flower garland stands at left with palms pressed together, facing the fire. Beside the altar, a child in orange clothes sits with hands folded. A standing man in an orange dhoti and shawl with gold-beaded necklaces holds a ritual item near the fire. At right, a young man in an orange turban and orange robe holds a lit torch-lamp aloft, with a stone lion and a decorated stand in the corner. A crowd in orange and white clothing stands behind with hands folded in prayer.2016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07Night outdoor ritual homa at a sacred fire pit with a large flame rising from a golden-edged square fire altar. A figure on the left in a dark maroon robe with a red-and-orange flower garland stands with palms pressed together in namaste. Several young boys and attendants in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls, some with orange and yellow flower garlands, sit and stand around the fire with hands folded or holding ritual items. On the right, a man in a saffron dhoti and shawl with a bead garland holds a ritual object, and beside him a younger attendant in an orange turban and saffron clothing holds a lit lamp. A gold-coloured lion or animal statue and fruit offerings sit at the lower right. A crowd of about thirty people in white and orange stands in the background watching the fire.2016-02-07A night photograph of a homa fire ceremony in an open ashram courtyard. A fire burns in a rectangular golden-edged fire pit in the foreground, with a bowl and offerings beside it. On the left, a bare-shouldered figure in a brown-red cloth with a flower garland stands with hands folded toward the fire. Seated beside the pit are a young man in orange cloth with beaded necklaces and a child in cream clothing with hands joined. Standing at the centre-right, a young man in orange silk with gold borders and a long beaded necklace holds a small object near a white-clad attendant with a microphone and a tray. On the right, a youth in orange with a gold-trimmed cloth and a headdress holds a tray of flowers and offerings. Behind them, a large crowd of about 30 people in orange and white clothes stands with hands joined in prayer, and a small golden deity figure and a lion statue sit at the right edge.2016-02-07Night outdoor fire ritual. A bare-chested man with a red-brown shawl, garlands and folded hands stands at left facing the fire. Behind him, several men in saffron-orange dhotis and ceremonial beads perform the rite, one holding a lit torch aloft, another in a white dhoti and garland. A young man kneels in orange with hands joined near the fire. Onlookers in white and light clothing stand in the smoky background. A table at right holds fruits, a small Ganesha figure and brass items.2016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07February 07 20162016-02-07