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Night-time photograph of a homa at a brick-lined fire pit in the foreground, with a bright flame and offerings of fruit and marigold garlands nearby. Seated before it, a man in saffron-orange robes with a red forehead mark and a gold-beaded mala is pouring or offering into the fire, while beside him a woman in an orange top and gold necklace sits with hands folded. A crowd of devotees in orange, red and white clothing sits behind them under a multicoloured canopy with tassels. A brass trident stands at the right edge and oil lamps glow along the back wall.

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Night photograph of an outdoor homa at a Kumbh Mela-style gathering. A small brick fire pit holds a bright flame, with smoke rising. Seated near it, a man with long dark hair and an orange wrap, wearing a beaded necklace and ornate gold necklace, sits behind the fire. To the right, a man in an orange saffron-coloured robe, orange turban and gold necklace sits with hands folded, holding a long trident-topped staff nearby. Offerings include a brass plate of marigold petals and fruit, a brass kalasha-like vessel, and a striped umbrella overhead. A large crowd in orange and white clothing, many with malas, sits behind them under lamplight.A night-time homa at the Allahabad Kumbh Mela. A brick fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground, with fruit and offerings beside it. A man in bright orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged at the right, facing the fire, with ash marks on his forehead. In the foreground, a figure with a long dark hairstyle wears a light blue top, and a man in an orange turban and tan shawl sits with his back to the camera. Behind them, a large seated crowd in orange and white shawls faces the fire, and an ornate orange umbrella stands at the upper right. Persons in the crowd are visible, but counting them precisely is not possible.A night photograph of a homa at the Allahabad Kumbh Mela, with a square fire pit blazing at the lower centre. A seated man in saffron-orange robes, with a saffron forehead mark and a long rudraksha-style mala, sits behind the fire, and to the right a seated priest in deep red-orange robes with a red turban and a beaded mala keeps his hands together. A large umbrella with red fringe and a tall trident-topped staff stand at right, and a dense crowd sits and stands in the hazy orange light beneath a bridge in the background. a person is the saffron-robed man seated beside the fire, identified by the long mala and forehead mark; the description is based on these visible cues only.A night photograph of a fire ritual at a riverside gathering. A bright brick-lined fire pit blazes in the centre, with a seated priest in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala on the right of the fire, his forehead marked with tilak. In the foreground, a figure in an orange turban and dark hair sits facing the fire, their back to the camera. Behind them, a large crowd of devotees sits in orange and red shawls and head coverings in hazy lamplight. A saffron umbrella with tassels stands at the upper right, and a steel truss bridge is visible in the background.Night photograph of a homa fire ritual at the Kumbh Mela. A brick-lined fire pit blazes in the foreground with a tall flame. Two men in saffron-orange robes sit on mats behind it. The seated man at centre has curly hair and a red tilak, wears a saffron wrap and a beaded rudraksha-style mala, and holds a mala in his hands while tending the fire. The man at right wears an orange turban, a saffron robe and a heavy ceremonial gold necklace, and sits with hands folded. Behind them a crowd of devotees in orange and white sits watching, and brass plates of offerings lie on the mat. a person appears to be the man at centre, identified by his distinctive hair, saffron wrap, mala and ceremonial gold necklace cues, presiding over the homa.July 22 20132013-07-22May 30 20062006-05-30Night-time homa at an open-air fire pit at Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, with a large blaze rising from a square brick fire altar. A central figure in saffron-orange robes, a saffron turban, layered gold and beaded garlands sits behind the fire and holds a sheet while officiating. Around him, shaved-headed sannyasis in orange and devotees in orange and maroon saris with rudraksha malas sit closely in a ring, some holding papers and offering items. Brass vessels and a ritual setup sit near the altar, and a figure in white stands at the right beside a decorated drum. Several white-clad attendees sit in the background under dim light.2013-07-22May 30 20062006-05-30Night-time outdoor ritual by a riverbank with a fire burning on a stone platform. A woman with long dark wavy hair in orange robes stands at the centre, extending a ladle or spoon over the flames while a deity murti sits in an ornate golden shrine behind. Nearby stand brass lamps, a silver kalasha-like vessel, marigold garlands in a bowl and plates of offerings. Around them sit a large crowd of devotees in orange and saffron clothing, a woman in red at left, and a man in orange at right holding a plate of fruit. A silver ceremonial staff is visible at upper right.2006-05-26March 10 20132013-03-10A night ritual fire ceremony in an open courtyard. A central fire burns in a square pit, with a seated figure on an ornate throne behind it, draped in orange and wearing a long garland of beads. Around the fire sit rows of shaved-headed men in saffron-orange robes and rudraksha malas, many with hands extended toward the flames, and women in orange and maroon saris with gold borders, some with hands folded in prayer. Trishula staffs stand upright on either side, and a standing man in orange holds a ritual object at the back. Strings of coloured lights hang in the background. The arrangement suggests a homa or yagna with satsang seating. Some people are in the foreground, partially visible.2013-03-10