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Outdoor night ritual: a fire pit (homa) burns at the centre, its base decorated with flowers and fruit, surrounded by brass vessels and offerings. A bare-chested man in a green-trimmed cloth and green headband stands on a raised stone slab, lifting a ceremonial vessel. Beside him a man in white dhoti with hands folded watches. Behind them an ornate decorated palanquin/ratha with garlands and a deity murti on top. Around a hundred devotees sit in white and red clothing on mats under lights, many with hands folded in prayer.

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July 04 20162016-07-04 +1 copiesJuly 04 20162016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04A night-time homa ritual at an outdoor temple-style pavilion. A brick fire pit with a bright flame sits at the centre, surrounded by offerings of flowers, grains and brass vessels. Priests in white dhotis sit on the ground; one bare-chested priest wears a green cloth and a white sacred thread, pouring offerings into the fire. Behind the fire stands a tiered decorated ratha-like altar with garlands, carved lions and a lotus base. Illuminated deity murti line the walls. Several musicians in white and saffron sit with microphones at right. Seated devotees in white and red shawls watch at left and front.2016-07-04 +1 copiesA photograph of a night homa in a decorated tent hall. A large fire burns in a brick fire pit, its stepped brick base decorated with flowers, with a tiered ornate shrine behind it. Several men in white dhotis sit cross-legged around the fire, one bare-chested with a sacred thread, and one in an orange wrap and white dhoti stands at the right. Brass pots, bowls, flowers and a basket of grains sit on the ground in front, with microphones on stands near the men. Illuminated golden shrines with deity murti line the back of the hall, with colourful hanging tassels above. Several people in white and a few in red and orange sit in the background, with a few other figures standing nearby.2016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04 +1 copiesDecember 07 20162016-12-07July 04 20162016-07-04Night outdoor homa at a fire pit lined with marigold and rose petals and orange-painted brick edges. A standing priest in a green head cloth, bare-chested with a green waist cloth and white dhoti, holds up a brass pot with flowers. Beside him a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti stands with palms joined overhead. A seated priest in an orange shawl and white dhoti kneels at the left. Behind them a crowd of devotees in white dhotis and red shawls sits on mats. To the right, an ornate decorated palanquin or ratha with flower garlands and carved golden figures stands beside brass lamps and fruit offerings.2016-07-04A Vedic Rudra homa is underway outdoors before a large seated gathering. In the centre, a bare-chested priest with a saffron-and-white turban and a green-and-gold sash pours an offering from a small vessel into a brick fire pit where flames rise high. Beside him, another bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a pink-and-purple shawl holds his hands together in prayer. At right stands a young assistant in an orange-brown shawl and rudraksha mala beside an ornately decorated altar with carved figures and flower garlands. Brass lamps, offering bowls and baskets of grains sit on the ground. Behind them, rows of devotees in white with red shawls sit or stand, many with palms joined.2016-07-02 +1 copiesJuly 04 20162016-07-04