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A photograph of an outdoor homa on a sandy beach at dusk, with a sunset sky in red and orange behind. A bright wood fire burns in a brick-lined fire pit at centre. Two priests sit on green mats at the left and right of the fire; the left priest wears a white dhoti, a magenta-pink cloth on his shoulders and a beaded garland, and the right priest wears a magenta shawl, a white cloth and a beaded necklace, holding a microphone. A blue-draped altar holds flowers, fruit and a kalasha-like arrangement. Brass oil lamps and a silver pot sit on the sand in front. Behind them, a large seated crowd of roughly a hundred people in white, red and orange clothing faces the fire, with more standing at the back.

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December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Four priests sit on green mats on a sandy beach around a brick fire pit where a bright flame burns, with bundles of wood stacked to one side and a copper vessel and brass lamps nearby. A decorated altar draped in teal cloth holds fruit and floral offerings behind the fire. Two priests on the left wear white dhotis, purple-and-gold shawls and garlands; one wears a purple turban and stirs a ladle. Two on the right wear white dhotis with purple shawls and garlands. Behind them a large crowd of devotees in white, orange and red clothing sits and stands on the sand under a pale sky, which suggests a homa or yagna held outdoors.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Outdoors on a sandy beach at dusk, a fire homa is being performed. Four men in white dhotis with magenta or purple shawls sit on green mats around a small brick fire pit with burning flames, bundles of wood stacked beside them, and brass vessels and oil lamps nearby. Behind a draped green altar with flower decorations, a crowd of more than twenty seated and standing people watches the ritual against a pale sky.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25A dusk beach ceremony on pale sand under a red and grey sunset sky. A large crowd of many dozens of people sits and stands along the shoreline facing the sea. In the foreground, two seated figures perform a fire ritual beside a lit fire pit: one bare-chested man in white dhoti kneels at left, and a second person in a purple top and white garment sits at right behind a blue-draped altar holding offerings and lamps. A framed deity image stands on a small stand at left, and ornate silver or brass ritual vessels stand at the right edge beside a red cloth-covered seat. This appears to be a homa-style fire ceremony held on the beach at sunset.2015-12-25Evening beach ritual at sunset on sand with a large crowd of devotees seated and standing along the shoreline against a red-orange sky over the sea. In the foreground two priests in white dhotis, one bare-chested, sit before a blue-draped altar with a sacred fire burning on a stone or brass pit, with brass lamps and offerings nearby. To the right stand several brass deity murti on a red-draped platform, and at left an empty ornate chair with a framed portrait sits on a red carpet. The crowd includes many people in white and colourful clothing.2015-12-25