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A homa fire ritual at night, with a flame burning in a square fire pit lined with yellow marigold garlands. A seated priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha mala and white forehead markings, pours from a small brass vessel into the fire. Two seated priests in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas and white markings sit on either side; the left one speaks into a microphone on a stand. A standing man in white behind them holds a long instrument, and brass bowls, a red cloth and a basket of flowers sit on the floor.

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A night outdoor homa at a fire pit lined with white steps and marigold garlands. A bare-chested man in white dhoti sits at the centre tending a burning fire with a ladle, a vertical tilak on his forehead and rudraksha beads on his neck. To the left, two men in saffron-orange cloths with white body markings sit on a mat, one speaking into a microphone on a stand. At the lower right, a shaved-headed young man in orange with white arm markings holds a yellow plastic bag. A gilded shrine canopy with tasselled hangings and a golden throne-like chair stand in the background, with a brass kalasha and flower garlands nearby.2013-12-21December 21 20132013-12-21December 21 20132013-12-21Night photograph of a homa or fire ritual on an outdoor stone platform. A central priest in white dhoti with gold borders and a bare upper body, with white tilak on his forehead, pours liquid from a brass ladle into a fire pit with flames at the bottom of the frame. Beside him, a seated young man in saffron robes and a white headband speaks into a microphone on a stand, and another kneeling figure in orange holds a brass plate. A standing figure in orange with rudraksha beads gestures toward the fire. Yellow marigold garlands, scattered petals, brass vessels and a red cloth bundle lie on the ground. Behind them, a golden decorated structure and a gold-trimmed shrine are visible, with colourful tassels hanging above.2013-12-21A night-time ritual photograph in a temple-like hall with a golden-decorated shrine behind. A seated young priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold border, rudraksha mala and white forehead and arm markings, holds a lit lamp over brass bowls and yellow flower garland. Two seated young men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas and white ash markings sit beside him, one at a microphone stand. Behind them a man in white plays a long brass horn and another stands with a drum. Incense smoke drifts through the scene.2013-12-21December 21 20132013-12-21Night homa at an outdoor altar. A priest in white dhoti with gold border, bare-shouldered and with a shaved head, pours an offering from a long ladle into a fire burning in a square white fire pit strung with yellow marigold garlands. Behind the fire, a row of kalasha pots wrapped in yellow flower garlands and blue cloth sits on a maroon-draped platform, with a small lit gold-framed deity image at upper left and coloured string lights overhead. Brass bowls, lamps and offerings rest on the steps and mat. A young man in saffron-orange robe with white forehead markings sits at right beside the fire, with another person in orange partly visible behind him.2013-12-21Night outdoor homa ritual beside a brick-lined fire pit with a visible flame at its base. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha mala, sacred marks and a gold-bordered cloth, holds a lit camphor aarti lamp and a small bell. Two young men in saffron-orange robes sit on a mat: the one on the left sings into a microphone on a stand, and the one on the right sits with palms joined in prayer, also wearing rudraksha malas and white markings. Brass bowls hold flower petals and offerings, marigold garlands lie on the stone edge, and dried herb bundles sit at right.2013-12-21Night-time outdoor homa at a fire pit lined with white stone and marigold garlands. A standing young man in white dhoti with gold border and white upper cloth, hands folded in prayer, holds a red flower and wears rudraksha malas; white ash marks his arms and forehead. Behind him a young man in orange robes and rudraksha mala holds a woven basket of offerings. To the right, a seated young priest in orange robes with a white forehead mark pours from a brass vessel on a plate of petals. Another orange-robed figure seated at left speaks into a microphone. Golden decorative arch with colourful tassels and a gilded throne behind. Flames rise from the fire pit in the foreground.2013-12-21December 21 20132013-12-21A night homa at an outdoor ritual site: a large fire rises from a square fire pit lined with brick, with marigold and red flower offerings and scattered petals around its edge. Three priests sit around the fire: on the left a shaved-headed priest in white dhoti with gold necklace and bangles; in the centre a priest in saffron-orange cloth with a gold chain and bangles, holding a metal bowl and ladle; on the right a shaved-headed priest in white with tripundra marks and a gold pendant. Brass vessels, a gold-coloured puja box and flower-filled silver pots sit in the foreground. Behind them a large crowd of devotees, many in white, watches; red festoon lights hang across the background.2011-11-10December 21 20132013-12-21