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Night-time ritual outdoors under a canopy hung with leaf garlands, circular golden rings and decorated cloth banners. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with a red border and a gold-bead necklace stands at centre holding a lit lamp and a small brass vessel. Around him, seated priests in white clothes perform the puja, one with hands joined in prayer on the right. Brass oil lamps with flames burn in the foreground, along with a brass kalasha and a deity murti draped in a green silk cloth and marigold garlands.

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Night outdoor ritual at a yagna or homa setup. A bald man in a white dhoti with an orange-red border and a long beaded mala stands centre, holding a lit flame in his right hand and a small bell in the other. Strings of green leaves and hanging banners in red, yellow and blue decorate the open pavilion above him. In the foreground, a brass lamp with a burning flame and a brass kalasha-style vessel rest on a white platform, beside a flower garland and a green silk-wrapped deity murti. Seated devotees in white clothes with mala beads sit with hands folded in prayer on the left and right. Mats, metal plates and offerings are spread on the ground.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15Night-time ritual at an open outdoor pavilion hung with yellow-orange ribbons, leaves and a looped brass arch. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with red border stands centrally holding a brass lamp and a bell, with beaded necklaces. Seated around a white-draped low table, several men in white dhotis and shawls sit with hands folded in prayer, one holding a bundle of grass. A brass lamp, flower garland, a green silk-covered object and offering plates sit on the table. Other onlookers stand in the background.2010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15October 15 20102010-10-15Night outdoor ritual under a canopy of green leaf festoons and hanging colourful tassel banners. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl with a red border raises a lit camphor-style aarti flame in a brass lamp holder, with a bell in his other hand, standing before a large circular golden ring. Seated devotees in white clothes with folded palms surround a low table holding brass vessels, flowers, fruit and a green and gold cloth. A bald man in white with a gold chain and rudraksha-like beads sits in anjali posture on a purple mat at right, and a brass oil lamp stands in the foreground. Several other seated participants fill the background.2010-10-15October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time ritual outdoors under a canopy hung with banana leaves, colourful woven hangings and yellow ring-shaped decorations. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing an orange-beaded mala, holds a lit lamp toward the group. Several seated men in white dhotis, some with shaved heads and orange or beaded necklaces, sit on a mat with folded hands or handling brass vessels. A brass oil lamp with a flame stands in the foreground beside a decorated green and gold deity murti with flower garlands, and offerings and plates are arranged on the floor. Smoke rises in the background.2010-10-15Night photograph of a homa fire ritual in an open courtyard. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing a beaded necklace and gold bracelet, holds a lit oil lamp over a square fire pit burning with bright flames. Several seated priests in white clothes and beaded necklaces surround the pit; some have shaved heads and some hold their palms together. Bundles of tall dried sticks rise beside the fire, with brass plates, bowls and offerings of fruit, flowers and marigold garlands nearby. Strings of coloured lights hang behind, with a decorated pillar and a red-and-white painted wall at the back.2010-10-16A night ritual under an open-sided pavilion hung with green leaf garlands, orange triangular flags and tasselled decorations. A bald man in white dhoti and shawl stands at right holding a lit flame in a metal vessel toward the seated group. Several seated priests in white with rudraksha malas chant with folded hands, and a bearded man in white sits at lower right. Before them, a red and gold throne holds a framed portrait of a figure. Brass oil lamps burn on the steps, and a flowered vessel and offerings lie nearby. Statues and illuminated figures stand in the background, consistent with a Chandi Homa fire ritual.2010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight outdoor fire ritual at a homa pit, with flames rising from a raised square fire pit. A standing priest in white dhoti and cream shawl with a beaded necklace holds a small lamp and a ritual item near the flame. Several seated priests in white clothes sit around the pit, one with a beaded necklace and one in an orange-toned wrap. Brass plates of offerings and nuts sit on a cloth in the foreground. Behind them a decorated shrine has a ganesha murti with a bright yellow-orange trunk and flower garlands, a brass lamp stand with lit wicks, and strings of red and white lights. Tall decorated poles with colourful bands and green leaves frame the scene.2010-10-16 +1 copies