Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A homa is performed in a hall before a rectangular brick fire pit with a bright flame and burning wood sticks. A priest in saffron-orange robes with a rudraksha mala and vibhuti marks on his forehead tends the fire and offers from a brass plate of wooden sticks, with a small book open beside him. Brass bowls of offerings, marigold garlands and yellow-orange flowers sit around the pit. Behind, a row of seated devotees in white dhotis and kurtas, some in orange or red shawls, sit on mats, with a young boy in a camouflage shirt among them. Some people are standing near the back wall, and a gold ceremonial throne-like seat stands in the background, with a microphone at the right edge.

More like this

Open the gallery
A homa fire ritual in a hall with a rectangular brick-edged fire pit burning logs with flames and smoke in the foreground. A man in orange robes with a white forehead mark and a gold-beaded mala, seated at the right, extends his arm to feed the fire with a stick while small bowls of offerings and a open book sit beside him. Rows of seated devotees in white dhotis and kurtas, some in red shawls, face the fire on mats including a purple mat and red-striped runner. A small boy in a camouflage shirt sits near the fire. A golden throne-like seat stands at the back of the hall. The scene reads as an ashram satsang with fire offerings; the man in orange is a priest officiating the homa, and his identity is not established from appearance.2012-09-09A night homa in progress at an outdoor ritual area. A central yellow-gold fire pit blazes with large flames. Behind it, a man in an orange turban and rudraksha mala sits cross-legged with hands joined above the fire. Around him, several shaved-headed priests in saffron-orange dhotis sit on striped mats, tending the fire and handling offering trays of sticks and flower petals. Standing behind them, men in white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies hold their hands together in prayer. Gold ornamental arches, brass lamps and a pink flower-filled bowl are visible at the edges.2017-09-17 +1 copiesNight-time Ganapati homa at an outdoor ashram setting. A golden-yellow square fire pit holds a flaming fire, with smoke rising. Several priests sit around it in saffron/orange robes and white dhotis, with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings; the priest at right wears a red and gold turban and white garment with gold border and offers something into the fire. Silver and brass vessels, a small pot with yellow flowers, and bowls of grain sit at the edges. Behind them a seated audience in white and red-sashed clothing fills the background, with a microphone stand visible at left. A partial garland hangs in the background.2014-10-11August 29 20142014-08-29A night-time homa at an outdoor ritual pavilion. A large yellow-painted square fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground, decorated with white and purple floral markings and scattered flower petals. Behind it, a priest in an orange-red turban and orange cloth, wearing a rudraksha mala, sits cross-legged and feeds offerings into the fire from a bowl. Beside him, another ritual assistant in an orange turban and orange cloth tends the fire. Standing men in white dhotis with gold borders, some bare-chested and some wearing shawls, stand in the background. Brass lamps, a tray of flower petals, a covered brass vessel and small offering plates sit on a striped mat, along with a silver puja tray holding pink flowers and lit wicks. Gold decorative arches stand behind the group.2017-09-17September 17 20172017-09-17 +1 copiesA night-time homa ritual in a temple courtyard under a pink and white tent, with strings of coloured lights overhead. A tiered golden fire pit burns brightly in the foreground, with flowers and fruit offerings around it. A bare-chested priest with a red headcloth and rudraksha-style beads kneels at the fire, and another man in an orange cloth and a white dhoti tends the altar. Behind them, a decorated deity murti stands in an ornate golden arch, flanked by smaller statues. Seated devotees in white and saffron clothing watch from the right, and a man in a purple garment sits at the lower right with a basket of wood sticks. Several standing attendants in orange and white line the left side.2017-05-25September 14 20152015-09-14 +1 copiesApril 10 20162016-04-10September 17 20152015-09-17A night fire ritual. A seated priest in an orange-red turban and orange cloth pours offerings into the fire while a second orange-clad sadhu sits beside him. Around the pit, many white-dressed men with yellow-bordered dhotis, some bare-chested and wearing rudraksha malas, stand or sit on striped cloth. Brass trays of flowers, lamps, betel and pink petals sit in the foreground, with a camera tripod and a sound speaker in the background.2017-09-17Night homa ritual at an outdoor fire altar with a white tiered platform. A bald man in saffron-orange robes sits cross-legged at right, extending a long ladle-like stick toward a bright flame rising from the fire pit. Several men in white dhotis and shawls sit around the altar, some bare-chested with rudraksha malas, and one wears a tilak. Behind them a woman in orange and red sits on an ornate gold-trimmed red throne, and a smoky haze fills the air. Trays of food, rice, vegetables, prawns and bowls of offerings are arranged in front, with a brass plate and kalasha-style vessels, and a crowd of devotees watches from the dark background.2010-11-05 +1 copies