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Night outdoor fire ritual at a temple-like platform. A fire pit blazes in front of a decorated deity murti with a large golden hooded serpent canopy (naga) overhead and yellow and orange marigold garlands. Left, a priest in saffron-orange dhoti and orange head wrap bows toward the flames with hands extended. Right, a man in maroon robes with bare head holds a silver plate and pours or offers over the fire. Behind them, several people in white and maroon clothing stand with hands folded in prayer, and smoke drifts through the scene. Brass pots and vessels sit at the base of the fire.

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October 08 20132013-10-08A night-time homa at an outdoor temple setting: a large fire burns in a stone fire pit with smoke rising. Behind it stands a deity murti with a golden cobra hood canopy, draped in garlands of orange and yellow marigolds. On the left, a man in an orange turban and orange dhoti stands barefoot beside the pit. On the right, a person in a maroon-brown robe holds a large brass vessel, and a red and gold chair stands nearby. Brass pots, bowls of fruit and flowers sit on the ground in front of the fire pit.2013-10-06Night photograph of a homa at an outdoor ritual platform. A bare-chested man in an orange-red dhoti and orange turban stands at left, reaching toward a lit oil lamp atop a Nagaraja-style hooded serpent canopy garlanded with yellow marigolds. The fire burns high on a stepped stone fire pit in the foreground, with brass vessels, a silver bowl and a banana leaf with offerings on the ground. Behind, a blue draped platform holds smaller deity forms adorned with marigold garlands, and a few devotees in white and pink stand in the dark background.2013-10-07October 08 20132013-10-08October 08 20132013-10-08A night-time ritual at a fire pit (homa) in front of a deity murti shaded by a large golden naga hood, with the murti garlanded in yellow flowers and draped in pink cloth on a blue-and-purple covered platform. In the foreground a priest in saffron-orange dhoti and shawl, with a tied orange headcloth, pours from a silver vessel into the flames. On the right a person in a rust-red robe with a bare arm bandage holds a brass bowl of petals and flowers. Behind them a line of people in white and red-brown garments stands on steps, watching. Smoke rises through the scene, and flowers are scattered on the floor.2013-10-08October 06 20132013-10-06Night ritual photograph at a temple-style shrine with a gilded arch framing a Ganesha deity murti draped in red and yellow marigold garlands. A fire burns in a homa pit at the centre, with brass oil lamps beside it. A young man in orange robes with a saffron turban holds a ceremonial vessel towards the murti, while a woman in deep red-brown robes with long loose hair holds a brass plate near the fire. Four seated devotees in orange and maroon clothing sit in front with hands folded or pressed in prayer, and a decorated flower-garlanded figure appears at the left edge. Offerings, flowers and ritual items are spread on the ground.2013-11-04October 08 20132013-10-08October 06 20132013-10-06October 13 20132013-10-13Night outdoor homa at an open-air shrine. A priest in orange robes and an orange headwrap kneels at a golden fire pit, feeding offerings from a plate into a bright flame. Behind him stand marigold garlands on a deity murti and a golden cobra hood canopy. On the right, a seated man in a red-upholstered gold throne with orange robes presses his palms together in prayer, while a second orange-robed devotee beside him also joins his palms. Brass lamps, a plate of grains and flower petals lie on the ground, and a standing fan stands nearby.2013-10-06